Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York writes a column today about how a 13 year-old Alex Rodriguez, now the Yankees’ third baseman, idolized none other than Keith Hernandez when Mex was a Met.
Of course, A-Rod almost became a Met prior to the 2001 season, but he and agent Scott Boras scared then-GM Steve Phillips and the Mets away with his list of demands. Among them were:
- A tent in Spring Training for A-Rod Apparel and Merchandise.
- A personal suite in the stadium.
- A private office for his marketing representative to work during the day.
- Permission to use the team logo.
The situation prompted Phillips to hang the “24 + 1″ label around A-Rod’s neck like a noose.
A-Rod would then sign with the Yankees Rangers, and the rest is history.
5 comments
Connor O'Brien
6/22/2012-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
Why would he need a tent for his “apparel and merchandise”?
Steve
6/22/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
A-Rod went on to sign with Texas, not the Yankees. He was later traded to the Yankees.
To be honest, seeing how he was a steroids cheater and a little bit of a primadonna just as Philips said, I’m glad he never signed with the Mets. Somehow I think it would not have worked out at all.
Paul Festa
6/22/2012-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Correct. My mistake.
srt
6/22/2012-5:25pm at 5:25 pm (UTC -4)
I wasn’t really thrilled with getting ARod back in ’01 and am even more glad now Phillips passed on him.
Wouldn’t have been all bad though if we had signed him. We could have had him for a couple of years during his prime and then we could have been the one to trade him to the Yankees when Wright and Reyes came up. Ah…..sometimes though it’s all about those signings and trades you didn’t do that turn out to be the smart moves.
gategem
6/22/2012-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
Of course we’re supposed to believe Steve Phillips’ about A-Rod’s demands as we all know Phillips has proven himself to be a trustworthy man of honesty and integrity.
BTW people tend to conveniently forget that A-Rod agreed to take less money to sign with the RedSox but the union vetoed that and that A-Rod at that time, the best SS in the game, agreed to move to third base to accommodate his move to the Yankees.
I’m not saying the Mets should have signed A-Rod but lets stop the bs.