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So, does Arod get 6 million for winning the World Series? Screw these personal milestones. Sure they are fun to watch but isn't the main goal each year is to win a championship. I'm sure others on the team (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte) aren't to happy about the milestones clauses and the emphasis on one player.

Peter, I'd say "enjoy" but that is too harsh to you you, a legit, thoughtful (usually) Yankees fan.

I agree. Just what is trying to be accomplished? Championships or personal accolades? This contract further divides ARod from his teammates. While he is trotting his way around the bases to additional millions, his teammates (not poor mind you) are focuses on winning, something ARod has done yet. Why did anyone advising ARod allow this? Is it Warren Buffett's fault?

Few things to comment on:

for the players (some of them anyway) it's about winning - and about the money.

for the owners (all of them) it's about money and winning is tyypically a means to money.

My issue is this: will PayRod be willing to simply "make contact" on a hit and run, hit a "fly ball only" for a sac fly, take a ball 4 when he gets what looks like a cookie to hit into the stands? I can see some real conflict of interest here. When millions are at stake, literally, on a stroke of the bat, what will PayRod's conscience tell him to do? There is going to be some serious spinning going on when this question comes up - and IT WILL COME UP.

Peter,

You pretty much nailed my thoughts on the subject.

So, essentially, A-Rod is being paid to hit home runs? So everytime there's a runner on second and third with less than two outs and he pops out to the short stop or nubs one to third, there's always going to be the question of whether or not he's trying to pull everything. We all saw how great his swing was when he was trying for #500.

I hate this contract. He's being paid $27.5 million for his services. I don't think he needs a cut of the marketing dollars. If he owned a share of the team, maybe. But he doesn't. He's a player and has a player's contract. A pretty hefty one.

This sends all the wrong signals in my opinion. Not only is he eating up a huge chunk of payroll, he's taking up even more if he achieves certain personal milestones. What does that have to do with winning? (if anyone says "well, if he hits more home runs, that means they'll win more," punch yourself)

Mitchell- That's a great point.

Andy- I think you have to blame the Yankees equally in all of this, they agreed to it and will benefit from it. From their perspective it probably makes sense because it is money they can offset with the additional revenue.

Tripp- Well said.

Jimmy-

I keep trying to figure out what Boras and Alex lost in this deal by opting out? Record-breaking contract?- check. Incentives for setting the home run record?- check Gets to return to where he "really" wants to play?- check.

So the bad feelings of the opt out were wiped away by an apology? Unless the final deal has piles of deferred money, I don't get it.