What is Happening to Alex Rodriguez?

 I gotta be honest, I didn't see this coming. It was like an earthquake rampaging through New York.

Alex Rodriguez might be traded.

Reports began to circulate yesterday that the Yankee Mega-Slugger might be out the door, and sooner rather than later.  Of course, General Manager Brian Cashman denied any such rumors, particularly of talks with the Florida Marlins.  Keith Olbermann was one of the first to start the rumor mill by reporting that the Yankees were in talks with the Marlins to trade Alex while picking up much of his left over $100,000,000 salary.  Heath Bell might come to New York in the potential deal.

This trade makes sense for a many reasons. In no particular order:

• Alex is OLD and breaking down. He has five years remaining on his contract and I afraid to see what shape he'll be in starting that fifth year.  If anyone is willing to pay ANY of his salary and take him from the Yankees, the discussion has to be there.
• There is now a precedent for dropping big contracts on teams who are desperate or stupid.  With the Red Sox able to trade away three big contracts to the Dodgers, there is now hope for any team who made a long term mistake 8 or so years ago.  This type of trade has happened, can happen, and will happen again, especially with salaries rising higher and higher with each new contract.  Players are increasingly arguing "Why does he make $100 million and I only make $80 million...." Shut up.
• Alex is from the Miami area and would be a boost to a Marlins team that traded away their franchise player Handley Ramirez and Anebal Sanchez (who is kicking butt in the playoffs).  I doubt Alex will be a great player with a change of scenery, but if the Marlins can drop Heath Bell and get a proven slugger for cheap, then why not give it a try?
• Finally, and especially if the season ends today for the Bombers, the complete mess that has been conjured up since Girardi pitch hit Ibanez for Alex.  Alex continuously argues the team is better with him on the field, not in the dugout (where at least he can't strike out against every  right handed pitcher).  This media/fan/manager/ownership/teammate debacle is only heightened by the alleged "Flirtgate" scandal where Alex was seen flirting with a woman in the stands during Game 1 of the ALCS. Typical Alex, but combined with everything else, this may be the final straw.

I'm too cool for this one horse town anyway.

Even with all these points of contention, I was not convinced of the validity of this trade possibility until I considered what happened in Game 2 of the ALCS. In the 9th inning down 2-1, the Yankees allowed Bret Gardner to bat with no one out and no one on base. You could argue his speed and bunting ability were valuable to begin a rally, but considering he was playing hurt and with only a few at bats during the post season, that argument is weak.  And the Yankees were only down 1 run and Alex is paid to hit home runs. How many runs make a home run? Oh that right...1. That's all the Yankees needed to tie and they could have had 3 opportunities if Alex pitch hit.  

There are two explanations. Either Girardi really believed Gardner was the better choice (for whatever possibly delusional reason) or management doesn't want Alex playing.  Sink your teeth into that idea...

In other news, check out my YouTube channel with a video commentary on my post about the Microsoft Surface and the iPad Mini!