Unsurprisingly Alex Rodriguez has emerged as the scapegoat for the 2012 Yankee collapse versus Detroit. He brought a lot of this on himself. He played terribly, and he may or may not have hit on Kyna Treacy during a loss. Combine that with the fact that he’s the man the baseball media loves to hate and A-Rod, and A-Rod alone, is the reason the Yankees are not going to the World Series. (Kindly forget that Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher also forgot to show up against the Tigers.) Now there is serious speculation that the team will trade Alex, possibly to the Marlins.
The trade talk has focused on the perceived off the field trouble Alex brings to the team. Maybe he’s a clubhouse cancer, maybe he’s not. Only those familiar with the team intimately know for sure. What no one has discussed is that Rodriguez remains good at his job. 2012 was far from Alex’s best season, but he still managed 2.2 fWAR, a .342 wOBA and a 114 wRC+. That’s a far cry from the glory days between 2005 and 2007 when Rodriguez was flirting with 50 homers and 10 fWAR every year, but that was still good enough to make him a positive contributor to the team. In fact, offensively Alex still ranks as a solid bat at his position.
It is easy for fans and the media to freak out after such a disappointing end to the season. New blood is always welcome on any baseball team. However, it is equally important to keep track of the facts. Should the Yankees decide that it is time to try their luck with a different third baseman they should do it because Rodriguez is old, or perhaps because his perceived indifference during the ALCS has irreversibly damaged his relationship with his team, but they shouldn’t do it because they think Alex is a bad player. Demonstrably, he’s a good player, certainly an overpaid player, but still one that is productive.
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3 Responses to Numerically, A-Rod is still good
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TIQ IQ
The Rod certainly has emerged the scapegoat but mostly to Rod haters…because there is no evidence that he was the cause of the sweep.
And yet, despite him being a better 3rd baseman than possible replacements, it’s a great time to shake up the team. It they can get a creative trade made? make it. Let Swish go…Sign n trade the Grandyman. Get creative, get artistic. Build another winner.
Maybe the Yankees should acquire a 3rd baseman who could push Alex into more of a “Michael Young” role. Veteran leader who has the ear of a lot of younger players and who still contributes at various positions wherever the team needs him. Also putting him in the DH role would take him off the field. Not that hes not a good fielder, he still has a great arm, but maybe resting his legs regularly would allow him to use them more in his hitting.
“Numerically good” LOL.
2012 A-Rod: 18 HR & 57 RBI for $29M
2012 Ibanez: 19 HR & 62 RBI for $1.1M plus whatever he made on x amount of PAs as $1.1M was a base salary
So we should accept mediocrity from a guy due $114M over the next five years including $28M next season? No, we shouldn’t.
A-Rod and $80M (based on a fan’s FanGraphs) to the Marlins for prospects. The Yanks should consider it a buyout with something received in return. Start Nunez at 3B and in the #2 slot between Jeter and Cano for around $600K since he made $512+K in 2012. If he does well, give him around $750K for 2014.
The Yanks could also GASP! trade for an MLB-ready kid blocked by a big club 3B.
Here’s another idea:
Trade A-Rod in the offseason, Cano midseason 2012, have Nix hold down 2B for the rest of 2013, Jeter 2B, Nunez SS, DAVID WRIGHT 3B in 2014.
All those ideas > keeping A-Rod for even one more year.