redsoxman
12-13-2003, 06:57 PM
NEW ORLEANS - Now we find out if they have all been telling the truth. Now we find out if Nomar Garciaparra [stats, news] truly wants to remain in Boston. And now we find out if the Red Sox [stats, schedule], as they have suggested, have regarded him as their top priority all along.
While Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks went on the record yesterday as saying that talks between the Red Sox and Rangers have at least temporarily ceased, sources confirmed that the Red Sox and Garciaparra have resumed discussions on a contract extension beyond next season. That news comes after Garciaparra and the Red Sox publicly sparred over the past week, each side accusing the other of, in a manner of speaking, dishonesty and infidelity.
Yes, a deal can be struck here, no matter what has been said. This is Boston, after all, and Garciaparra is a superstar athlete in this town. And rarely have negotiations of the like been conducted without the requisite amount of frustration, finger pointing and vitriol.
In the end, all that really matters is if they can come to an agreement. The rest is water under the bridge.
As things stand, Garciaparra is signed for next season at a salary of $11.5 million in the final installment of what is a seven-year, $45.25 million contract. There was no indication as to whether the Red Sox were still willing to offer Garciaparra the four-year, $60 million proposal the player rejected in spring training, and there is still plenty of time for hostility. There is still the very real possibility that the Red Sox could trade Garciaparra, but for now it seems as if they are negotiating exclusively for the purpose of keeping him.
A sign and trade? For now, that does not seem likely. Sources yesterday indicated that discussions were being conducted for the purpose of re-signing Garciaparra and keeping him in Boston, which has always been the best-case scenario for the Red Sox in the long run.
Inevitably, someone will suggest that the Red Sox' pursuit of Rodriguez was a strategic ploy, a way to get Garciaparra to the bargaining table with the understanding that the Red Sox had options. But before anyone believes that theory, let us all recognize that the Red Sox met with Rodriguez. He and owner John Henry have known one another for some time. If the Rodriguez pursuit was anything, it was a way to fill Garciaparra's position and dump Manny Ramirez [stats, news], all after being unable to sign Garciaparra to a long-term extension.
Let's be candid here. The Red Sox are a better team with Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez than they are with Rodriguez and Player X, so long as Player X remains unnamed. They just are. Ramirez is not nearly as disruptive to the Red Sox as many of his critics would like to believe. And if a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers now has the financial flexibility to add a player like Garciaparra to its payroll, then maybe the Dodgers would be willing to take on the majority of Ramirez' deal, too.
Now that would be a dream scenario: Garciaparra signed through 2008 at roughly $10 million per year less than A-Rod; Manny in Los Angeles; the financial flexibility to sign Keith Foulke [stats, news] and Player X, all while keeping the Red Sox under the $120 million luxury tax threshold.
Now, of course, all that remains is for the Red Sox and Garciaparra to come to terms. In the last week, Garciaparra has stated in no uncertain terms - on more than one occasion - that he wants to remain in Boston. And Wednesday, perhaps offering a sign that the Rodriguez talks were stalling, the Red Sox once again started to suggest that re-signing Garciaparra has always been their first option.
``I've always respected the uniform that I've worn. It's been the only uniform I know and it's the only uniform I want to know for my entire career,'' Garciaparra said earlier this week. ``That's basically how I feel.''
The Sox claim that's how they feel, too.
This really shouldn't be that difficult.
While Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks went on the record yesterday as saying that talks between the Red Sox and Rangers have at least temporarily ceased, sources confirmed that the Red Sox and Garciaparra have resumed discussions on a contract extension beyond next season. That news comes after Garciaparra and the Red Sox publicly sparred over the past week, each side accusing the other of, in a manner of speaking, dishonesty and infidelity.
Yes, a deal can be struck here, no matter what has been said. This is Boston, after all, and Garciaparra is a superstar athlete in this town. And rarely have negotiations of the like been conducted without the requisite amount of frustration, finger pointing and vitriol.
In the end, all that really matters is if they can come to an agreement. The rest is water under the bridge.
As things stand, Garciaparra is signed for next season at a salary of $11.5 million in the final installment of what is a seven-year, $45.25 million contract. There was no indication as to whether the Red Sox were still willing to offer Garciaparra the four-year, $60 million proposal the player rejected in spring training, and there is still plenty of time for hostility. There is still the very real possibility that the Red Sox could trade Garciaparra, but for now it seems as if they are negotiating exclusively for the purpose of keeping him.
A sign and trade? For now, that does not seem likely. Sources yesterday indicated that discussions were being conducted for the purpose of re-signing Garciaparra and keeping him in Boston, which has always been the best-case scenario for the Red Sox in the long run.
Inevitably, someone will suggest that the Red Sox' pursuit of Rodriguez was a strategic ploy, a way to get Garciaparra to the bargaining table with the understanding that the Red Sox had options. But before anyone believes that theory, let us all recognize that the Red Sox met with Rodriguez. He and owner John Henry have known one another for some time. If the Rodriguez pursuit was anything, it was a way to fill Garciaparra's position and dump Manny Ramirez [stats, news], all after being unable to sign Garciaparra to a long-term extension.
Let's be candid here. The Red Sox are a better team with Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez than they are with Rodriguez and Player X, so long as Player X remains unnamed. They just are. Ramirez is not nearly as disruptive to the Red Sox as many of his critics would like to believe. And if a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers now has the financial flexibility to add a player like Garciaparra to its payroll, then maybe the Dodgers would be willing to take on the majority of Ramirez' deal, too.
Now that would be a dream scenario: Garciaparra signed through 2008 at roughly $10 million per year less than A-Rod; Manny in Los Angeles; the financial flexibility to sign Keith Foulke [stats, news] and Player X, all while keeping the Red Sox under the $120 million luxury tax threshold.
Now, of course, all that remains is for the Red Sox and Garciaparra to come to terms. In the last week, Garciaparra has stated in no uncertain terms - on more than one occasion - that he wants to remain in Boston. And Wednesday, perhaps offering a sign that the Rodriguez talks were stalling, the Red Sox once again started to suggest that re-signing Garciaparra has always been their first option.
``I've always respected the uniform that I've worn. It's been the only uniform I know and it's the only uniform I want to know for my entire career,'' Garciaparra said earlier this week. ``That's basically how I feel.''
The Sox claim that's how they feel, too.
This really shouldn't be that difficult.