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A. Rod in mega Yankees deal
16/11/2007 11:30 - (SA)
New York - Alex Rodriguez has reportedly agreed on an outline with the New York Yankees on a record 10-year deal worth $275m, securing his quest to eclipse indicted home run king Barry Bonds.
ESPN and the New York Times reported the unprecedented Major League Baseball contract for the superstar third baseman on Thursday as news broke about charges filed against Bonds, whose 762 career homers broke Hank Aaron's mark.
Rodriguez had opted out of his contract with the Yankees but came back to the club without agent Scott Boras and worked out a deal to remain even though it was below the $350m he had sought.
"A-Rod", 32, has a .306 career batting average with 518 homers and 1 503 runs batted in. He was the youngest major league player to reach 400 and 500 homers and is seen as the top threat to pass Bonds as the all-time homer king.
The deal links Rodriguez, a Dominican-American, and the Yankees during the years when he would make a run at the all-time home mark, barring injury.
A new Yankee Stadium will open in 2009 and Rodriguez would be a major factor in keeping supporters jamming the new ballpark.
Rodriguez also might be able to erase the steroid taint brought by Bonds to the homer chase. Bonds's chase of Aaron was overshadowed by steroid accusations that Bonds denied. Such denials under oath led to the perjury charges on Thursday.
Rodriguez could win his third American League Most Valuable Player award next week. He had three years and $71m remaining upon his old Yankees deal when he opted out, rejected a five-year deal worth $140m offered by the club.
- AFP
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