AROD AGENT A 'CUB $COUT'
STAR COULD BE PART OWNER

September 23, 2007 -- A new report says Alex Rodriguez's agent has spoken to a potential new owner of the Chicago Cubs about a bank-breaking deal that could give A-Rod a cut of the team.

The powerful Yankee third baseman is eligible to opt for free agency 10 days after the World Series ends this fall. And, New York magazine reports, super-agent Scott Boras is already talking to who he thinks is the favorite group vying to purchase Chicago's first-place team.

A-Rod has three seasons left on a 10-year, $252 million deal with the Yanks but has the right to become a free agent after this season ends.

According to the magazine, Boras is peddling a Second City deal that could go for an average of $30 million a year over 10 seasons, with much of that cash backloaded for the 32-year-old Rodriguez - who would then be given the right to buy a chunk of the Cubs at the contract's conclusion. The report does not indicate who would pay for this proposed, precedent-setting deal.

The Tribune Company, owner of The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and Newsday, announced in April it was seeking to break off the Cubs from its media empire and sell the team after this season.

New York magazine writes that Boras is in talks with the ownership group that insiders believe will win the Cub-purchase derby.

That, however, may violate Major League Baseball rules.

"It is tampering for an agent to talk to anybody about a player who is under contract with another team," a sports-business expert told The Post.

Boras did not return calls for comment.

Asked about the potential deal after the Yankees' win yesterday over the Blue Jays, A-Rod said only, "I don't know what that's about."

New York magazine doesn't name the front-running owner wannabe but reports that it is not Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban of the NBA, who's expressed interest in grabbing the Cubs.

It has been reported that a group led by private-equity mogul John Canning, chief executive of Chicago's Madison Dearborn Partners, has the best shot.

Other bidders include a group led by local lawyer Thomas Mandler and businessman Jim Anixter, and another spearheaded by former state Sen. Bill Marovitz.

The prospect would put A-Rod in a small class of athletes-turned-owners:

* Michael Jordan owns a stake of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats and had a piece of the Washington Wizards while playing there during a brief comeback.

* The legendary Connie Mack served as longtime manager of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics, a job from which he couldn't be fired since he also owned the team.

* Mario Lemieux is principal owner and chairman of the team for which he once starred, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

* And NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is managing partner of hockey's Phoenix Coyotes.

Even though the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908 - a span that has seen the Yanks bring 26 titles to The Bronx - they're expected to sell for a record price between $600 million and $1 billion.

If Boras does cut a deal with the Cubs, A-Rod would be joining a stable of all-stars led by his former Seattle Mariner skipper, Lou Piniella.

Posted by djsunyc:

AROD AGENT A 'CUB $COUT'
STAR COULD BE PART OWNER

September 23, 2007 -- A new report says Alex Rodriguez's agent has spoken to a potential new owner of the Chicago Cubs about a bank-breaking deal that could give A-Rod a cut of the team.

The powerful Yankee third baseman is eligible to opt for free agency 10 days after the World Series ends this fall. And, New York magazine reports, super-agent Scott Boras is already talking to who he thinks is the favorite group vying to purchase Chicago's first-place team.

A-Rod has three seasons left on a 10-year, $252 million deal with the Yanks but has the right to become a free agent after this season ends.

According to the magazine, Boras is peddling a Second City deal that could go for an average of $30 million a year over 10 seasons, with much of that cash backloaded for the 32-year-old Rodriguez - who would then be given the right to buy a chunk of the Cubs at the contract's conclusion. The report does not indicate who would pay for this proposed, precedent-setting deal.

The Tribune Company, owner of The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and Newsday, announced in April it was seeking to break off the Cubs from its media empire and sell the team after this season.

New York magazine writes that Boras is in talks with the ownership group that insiders believe will win the Cub-purchase derby.

That, however, may violate Major League Baseball rules.

"It is tampering for an agent to talk to anybody about a player who is under contract with another team," a sports-business expert told The Post.

Boras did not return calls for comment.

Asked about the potential deal after the Yankees' win yesterday over the Blue Jays, A-Rod said only, "I don't know what that's about."

New York magazine doesn't name the front-running owner wannabe but reports that it is not Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban of the NBA, who's expressed interest in grabbing the Cubs.

It has been reported that a group led by private-equity mogul John Canning, chief executive of Chicago's Madison Dearborn Partners, has the best shot.

Other bidders include a group led by local lawyer Thomas Mandler and businessman Jim Anixter, and another spearheaded by former state Sen. Bill Marovitz.

The prospect would put A-Rod in a small class of athletes-turned-owners:

* Michael Jordan owns a stake of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats and had a piece of the Washington Wizards while playing there during a brief comeback.

* The legendary Connie Mack served as longtime manager of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics, a job from which he couldn't be fired since he also owned the team.

* Mario Lemieux is principal owner and chairman of the team for which he once starred, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

* And NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is managing partner of hockey's Phoenix Coyotes.

Even though the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908 - a span that has seen the Yanks bring 26 titles to The Bronx - they're expected to sell for a record price between $600 million and $1 billion.

If Boras does cut a deal with the Cubs, A-Rod would be joining a stable of all-stars led by his former Seattle Mariner skipper, Lou Piniella.

Posted by djsunyc:

it's not a choice of if "we" let a-rod go, it's totally up to arod.

if this article is correct and they offer him ownership, how could he refuse that deal? it's 100% up to arod.

we've won before without arod, we can win again. but if he leaves, we will totally become a different team and will probably have to play a different type of baseball.

Posted by BigSm00th:

did torre break the joba rules by bringing him in today in the 8th?

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by BigSm00th:

did torre break the joba rules by bringing him in today in the 8th?

he brought in joba last wednesday in the 8th inning with 2 outs.

And last Friday for two complete innings. So, yes, he did break the Joba rules. Breaking them was inevitable. They'll be either modified or eliminated altogether for the playoffs IMO.

Posted by djsunyc:

it's not a choice of if "we" let a-rod go, it's totally up to arod.

if this article is correct and they offer him ownership, how could he refuse that deal? it's 100% up to arod.

we've won before without arod, we can win again. but if he leaves, we will totally become a different team and will probably have to play a different type of baseball.

Jesse Litsch will take the mound in the series finale, filling in for scheduled starter A.J. Burnett, who was bumped to Tuesday after attending to a family matter on Monday.