BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Brian Cashman: Possible A-Rod could miss season

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, January 25, 2013

Brian Cashman: Possible A-Rod could miss season

He’ll do anything to protect that .300 batting average!

The arthroscopic surgery New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had on January 16 to repair a torn labrum and impingement in his left hip went, according to a subsequent statement released by the team, “as planned and without complications.” While it’s anticipated A-Rod will return after the All-Star break, general manager Brian Cashman did not dismiss the possibility that Rodriguez would be sidelined the entire 2013 season.

“I think, because of the serious nature of the surgery and the condition that he’s trying to recover from, there is that chance,” Cashman told WFAN-AM in New York on Friday. “I would say it’s not going to be because Alex doesn’t do everything in his power to put himself in a position to get back, and be healthy and productive. He’ll do everything necessary and his part. It’s just will the success of the surgery and the condition that he has recover optimally as everybody expects, but there’s no guarantees in this stuff. Best-case scenario, yeah, he should be back. Worst-case scenario he won’t be back or there might be something in between. These are unique circumstances and new experiences injury wise that has a very small history behind it in the last decade or so.”

...Cashman also added that barring an unforeseen setback, Derek Jeter (ankle) will be ready, “without question,” for Opening Day.

Repoz Posted: January 25, 2013 at 07:01 PM | 23 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Nasty Nate Posted: January 25, 2013 at 07:12 PM (#4355175)

"If Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract, we will not participate in his free agency. That is accurate and that is definitive."

2. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: January 25, 2013 at 07:24 PM (#4355183)

Filed under 'anything is possible'.

3. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat Posted: January 25, 2013 at 07:31 PM (#4355187)

Worst-case scenario he won’t be back or there might be something in between.

Worst-case scenario is that he's back but has lost so much range that he can't credibly play the field, his hitting is no better than it was after he came back in September of last year, and there isn't much chance of improvement. That would be a DH who hits 261/341/369 and is owed $114 million over the next 5 years. That's worse for the Yankees than an A-Rod who never plays again.

4. boteman Posted: January 25, 2013 at 08:14 PM (#4355201)

"If we stay healthy this year, we could win some ball games."

5. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: January 25, 2013 at 08:21 PM (#4355204)

"If Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract, we will not participate in his free agency. That is accurate and that is definitive."

Cashman didn't participate in his free agency. That was Hank.

6. philly Posted: January 25, 2013 at 09:24 PM (#4355218)

Poor Cashman, he gets to spend 200M on payroll *and* get absolved of any disaster contracts because of interference from Hank or the Tampa people or whomever. Breaks your heart.

7. Walt Davis Posted: January 25, 2013 at 09:26 PM (#4355220)

Poor Cashman, he gets to spend 200M on payroll *and* get absolved of any disaster contracts because of interference from Hank or the Tampa people or whomever.

Second toughest job in sports next to Marina Sharapova's massage therapist.

8. bookbook Posted: January 25, 2013 at 10:44 PM (#4355257)

So, is this an attempt to collect insurance monies

9. Rough Carrigan

Posted: January 25, 2013 at 11:14 PM (#4355268)

Yup. Just another insurance scam. I think this was the plot of an old Rockford Files episode.

10. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: January 26, 2013 at 12:17 AM (#4355304)

Poor Cashman, he gets to spend 200M on payroll *and* get absolved of any disaster contracts because of interference from Hank or the Tampa people or whomever. Breaks your heart.

Please present evidence that Cashman had anything to do with the A-Rod negotiation.

11. Dale Sams Posted: January 26, 2013 at 01:03 AM (#4355318)

S'allright. Get that aging, injury prone guy out of there. Who is his replacement again?

12. jyjjy Posted: January 26, 2013 at 01:37 AM (#4355322)

What is the insurance like on current contracts? I remember reading a few years ago that insurance on a decently sized sports contract had become more expensive than it is worth and teams had mostly started to go without.

A-Rod's resigning is possibly the worst baseball move I've seen and as a Yankees fan I have to say the circumstance under which it happened just makes it even worse and more baffling.

13. akrasian Posted: January 26, 2013 at 01:49 AM (#4355326)

What are the chances the insurance company would refuse to pay, given the delay on ARod getting the surgery? Seems to me that unless there was a medical reason not to have the surgery several months ago, that they'd have a good argument that he should have been ready by early in the season, which would likely mean zero insurance payout depending on the insurance policy.

14. The Yankee Clapper Posted: January 26, 2013 at 02:10 AM (#4355332)

Supposedly, according to the medical folks, this surgery will restore more range of motion than A-Rod had in recent years. Might be a little early to write him off.

15. Darren

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 02:49 AM (#4355334)

Please present evidence that Cashman had anything to do with the A-Rod negotiation.

He was the GM of the Yankees.

16. Jack Carter, calling Beleaguered Castle Posted: January 26, 2013 at 03:46 AM (#4355344)

What is the insurance like on current contracts? I remember reading a few years ago that insurance on a decently sized sports contract had become more expensive than it is worth and teams had mostly started to go without.

I wonder what percentage of team payroll goes to insurance.

17. Walt Davis Posted: January 26, 2013 at 06:16 AM (#4355351)

For what it's worth, this story does make it sound like it was strictly an ARod Hank deal with no Cashman.

18. Jack Carter, calling Beleaguered Castle Posted: January 26, 2013 at 06:33 AM (#4355354)

That was my strong impression at the time, that Hanky swooped in and demanded it get done.

19. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: January 26, 2013 at 09:07 AM (#4355368)

What is the insurance like on current contracts? I remember reading a few years ago that insurance on a decently sized sports contract had become more expensive than it is worth and teams had mostly started to go without.

I don't see how it could be any other way. Insurance companies aren't charities, they do what they do because they can get more money in premiums, than they pay out. The point of insurance for the insured, is to prevent a situation that they can't afford. But any team can afford to eat a contract, and be ok. And with high risk assets like baseball contracts, you are basically guaranteed to end up paying more by insuring in the long run. Any baseball team that isn't self-insuring is fiscally retarded (or the insurance company is).

20. Gonna break my Rusty Kuntz and run . . . Arbitol Posted: January 26, 2013 at 09:52 AM (#4355373)

I wonder if there are instruments on the various online contract markets (intrade, etc.) that might make sense for things like this. Probably the trading volume is insufficient to make that a viable option either. I guess I answered my own question.

21. YR Misses Reggie Bars Posted: January 26, 2013 at 12:37 PM (#4355454)

For what it's worth, this story does make it sound like it was strictly an ARod Hank deal with no Cashman.

Didn't Boras openly brag that he bypassed Mr. Cashman entirely and called Randy Levine or Young Master Steinbrenner directly?

22. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 26, 2013 at 12:41 PM (#4355459)

But the good news is that A-Rod can crack the starting lineup for the All-Dead Team.

23. Ron J2 Posted: January 28, 2013 at 02:11 PM (#4356593)

#14 Around a decade ago Forbes had an article on insurance of sports contracts. Insurance costs had risen to the point that a number of teams were either going without or were forming pools to (partially) mutually insure contracts. (as #19 mentions)

Basically a number of players had dropped out, and most insurers only want to hold ~3 million on any given contract. At that time it was almost impossible to get more than ~9 million in insurance.

But unless I'm mistaken ARod's contract is a specific exception.

I'm guessing the fact that his age was a factor. An insurer would probably feel more comfortable taking a risk on a 25 year old (his age when he signed with the Rangers) and even at 31 (age of his 2nd contact) he was still a reasonable risk.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Friday, January 25, 2013

Brian Cashman: Possible A-Rod could miss season

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics