| Here's the top spots according to me:
Angels: Playing in L.A., so you keep the major market. They're already a contender, and adding A-rod could push them over the edge.
Cubs: Pinella there is a big draw since they were close in Seattle. Cubs are a huge draw because they're in a major market and the Trib Co. has access to tons of money and by all accounts are going to try to finally put the pieces in place.
Dodgers: Play in LA, historic franchise, died in October this year from lack of solid hitting once Nomar went down. Nowhere near the pressure cooker that New York is. Access to a huge media market, and seem committed to winning a championship in the next two years.
Padres: Consistantly lose to the Cards in the postseason due to lack of any sort of power production. Market size and prominence is offset by the low expectations and lack of pressure.
White Sox: Have the money and prospects/players to deal. Major media market, nowhere near the fishbowl of New York. Possibly will need a new short-stop now that Uribe is a suspect for shooting someone in the Dominican Republic.
Teams you can safely rule out:
Boston: No way in hell they'll send him to Boston. Too many ways that could bite them in the ass. Simply can't see them sending A-rod to their biggest rival.
Mets: See above, except change biggest rival to cross-town competition.
Devil Rays, Marlins, Royals, Brewers, Rockies, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Reds, Orioles, Nationals, Twins, Indians, Tigers, A's, : Not willing to shell out and/or develop a winning product and/or no direction and/or uncommitted ownership groups and/or don't need him
Texas/Seattle: already burned those bridges
On the cust:
Philly: Could see them making a huge splash with this move. Problems include lack of really anything to send in a deal, potential spending issues, and directional issues from the club.
Astros: Need the power and hitting. Have the pitching, need the offense. Problem: this is the same club that was too cheap to retain Beltran after his killer postseason with them.
Cards: Where would they put him in the lineup? Rolen and Pujols have the corners and Eckstein is at short. Not sure if the Cards would want to part with Rolen for A-rod, and not sure if they would want to give up the pitching players for him.
Toronto: Willing to spend, have people to trade, looking to compete for a title. Problem: Canadian market so nobody cares, division contender with the Yanks.
Giants: Desperately need a new powerhitter to take advantage of a ballpark designed for the deepball and to take attention away from/give lineup protection to Barroid. Don't have much to give up since its an old team, and questionable if they would shell out for A-rod. Main need is pitching.
Arizona: Has MLB ready players to give up, Phoenix is a rapidly growing market, team already has a ring, no pressure. Problems include picking up his salary, sacrificing their future players. |