November 26, Part II

Yanks/A-Rod Marketing Pact

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees agreed to a $30 million marketing agreement that according to multiple published reports could raise the total value of his contract to $305 million over 10 years. The agreement would pay A-Rod an additional $6 million over his contract base for matching Willie Mays with 660 career home runs, Babe Ruth with 714, Hank Aaron with 755 and Barry Bonds mark (currently at 762), and then an additional $6 million for passing Bonds to become baseball's all-time home run king. The agreement has not yet been finalized, but both sides have reportedly agreed to its terms.

Two weeks ago both parties agreed to the basic framework of a 10-year, $275 million contract.

Rodriguez will enter next season with 518 career home runs and is on pace to break the all-time record sometime around 2013. Major League Baseball doesn't usually endorse bonuses tied to home run totals, but the Commissioner's Office approved this arrangement because A-Rod would need to make additional personal appearances and memorabilia signings to collect all its benefits, according to the Associated Press.

What will be interesting to see is how other contracts are effected by this agreement, not only in baseball but the other professional sports. As much as I hate to say it, there is that chance that A-Rod suffers a career ending injury before he ever gets to 660 or 714 and this agreement is for not, but should he surpass Barry Bonds and hit 850 or 900 home runs how many other players would have clauses like this one built into their contracts, and would it start to become the norm? While we may not see the career home run record broken in our lifetime, what about the all-time hit record, or doubles record, or stolen base record?, etc... What might start to come from this is bonuses added to players contracts if single season records are broken too. Some players have certain performance clauses added such as if they win the MVP or win 20 games or play in "X" number of games, etc... but that usually pays them several thousand/hundred thousand dollars and nowhere in the neighborhood of $6 million. While it is early to speculate, as Rodriguez's clauses haven't been finalized yet, this could be the start of possibility new clauses being added in contracts and endorsed by the Commissioner's Office.


Kennedy May Have Had Enlarged Heart

The agent for Joe Kennedy said Sunday the family has been told by doctors the pitcher's death might have been the result of an enlarged heart. Agent Damon Lapa said it will take 6-to-8 weeks for the results of Kennedy's autopsy, pending the completion of toxicology tests. Kennedy, a journeyman who pitched for three major-league teams in 2007, finishing up the season with Toronto, died at his in-laws' home Friday at age 28. Kennedy woke up at about 1:15 a.m. Friday and collapsed as he was leaving a bedroom at the home of his wife's parents, Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue took Kennedy to Brandon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Kennedy spent seven years in the majors, playing last season with Oakland, Arizona and Toronto. He also spent time with Tampa Bay and Colorado and had a 43-61 career record with a 4.79 ERA in 222 appearances.

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