Imagine working hard to build a rivalry but instead creating a World Series-winning partnership. Alex Rodriguez has first-hand experience of this phenomenon. It was always a topic of hot discussion when Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004. After all, he was a world-class shortstop about to enter a team whose captain played in the same position. However, hidden behind these questions was a story that few knew.
While A-Rod may have joined the Yankees, they were never his first choice. Neither were they second or third actually! That’s right, A-Rod had planned on joining three other teams before the Bronx Bombers came calling. In fact, he was so close to signing with one that fans had already anticipated baseball’s very own “Magic vs Bird” rivalry! So what stopped A-Rod from creating history?
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In an appearance on The Deal – Rodriguez and Derek Jeter talked about their intertwining careers. While discussing their 2009 World Series triumph, the discussion shifted to how A-Rod got traded from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees. Jeter expressed how he was surprised about Rodriguez’s decision to shift to third base. For a player widely regarded as one of the greatest shortstops this was a jarring move. However, to this Rodriguez revealed that this wasn’t his original plan.
A-Rod shared how the then-owner of the Rangers Tom Hicks informed him that the team wanted to trade the star. So A-Rod gave his top three desired teams, “I called him back Monday, all right – Red Sox, Angels, and Mets. And I thought the Mets was really interesting because I grew up watching Magic versus Bird…So I thought going to New York would be great or baseball,” A-Rod said.
The weather and general atmosphere of Anaheim attracted him. However, it was the Boston Red Sox who were number one for Rodriguez. “I worked on the Red Sox deal for two months. That deal, literally at the one-yard line fell apart,” said A-Rod. Just how close was that one-yard line? The pen was on the paper.
How the Boston Red Sox lost their chance for Alex Rodriguez
Throughout the years, Rodriguez has continued to tell how the Red Sox deal fell apart. Ever since the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, they had their eyes on Rodriguez. The superstar’s Texas stint hadn’t been fruitful for the team, so a trade seemed imminent. However, the seven years and $179 million left in his contract was a huge hangup.
Per ESPN the Red Sox asked A-Rod whether he was ready to lower his salary – Rodriguez agreed. In fact, Rodriguez had even signed on the dotted line. Everything was set in stone but then the MLBPA shut down the deal. They didn’t want Rodriguez to take less money than what was owed to him.
Then the Yankees swooped in with their offer and the rest as they say, is history. While the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, Rodriguez had to wait till 2009. Still, he doesn’t mind – after all, becoming a “Villain Yankee” is a life-changing experience in itself.
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Edited by
Deepanshi Bajaj