The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees just defeated the Boston Red Sox three out of four games in their first series of the 2014 season. A name not seen in the box score for the Yankees is Alex Rodriguez, who is serving a season-long suspension. But, can you imagine if A-Rod donned a pair of Red socks instead of Yankee pinstripes? It was late 2003 when Rodriguez nearly became a part of the fierce rivalry in a much different fashion.
One of the newest “ESPN 30 for 30” films looks into the events that led to Rodriguez becoming a member of the Yankees during the 2003 offseason. But what may be forgotten, is that he very nearly became a member of the Red Sox until that deal was ultimately rejected by the MLB Players Union and Commissioner’s office. ESPN does a great job with their documentaries, and this story is no different.
In 2003, it was the Texas Rangers looking to move the once best player in baseball just three years after signing Rodriguez to the largest contract in MLB history. The two likely destinations were the two east-coast powers, and when New York was originally not interested, it was Boston looking to shock the world.
What if A-Rod would have wound up in Boston? Would Red Sox Nation still go on to really shock the world in 2004 in winning their first World Series in 86 years? The two deals that Boston would have had to make to complete their transformation was sending to Texas Manny Ramirez and a minor leaguer in Jon Lester in exchange for A-Rod. They also would have moved Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago White Sox for Magglio Ordonez and Brandon McCarthy.
Could you imagine Nomar in Chicago possibly winning a ring in 2005? How would the 2007 and 2013 Fall Classics play out for the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals if things were different? Or, what if with that ace lefty in Lester, the Rangers would have been able to close out the 2010 and 2011 World Series instead of being the runner-up?
What would have been A-Rod’s legacy if he spent time in Boston? Would he have still been caught up in the PED allegations? Would he be more of a fan favorite, or would the Nation’s team become the “hated” Red Sox? What could have been.
When the deal was ultimately done with New York, what if Texas chose Robinson Cano instead of Joaquin Arias? In that park, perhaps Cano could have been one of the game’s elite power-hitters. Ranger fans would be cheering for him, instead of now ultimately rooting against him with a divisional foe in the Seattle Mariners.
The winter of 2003 changed the landscape of Major League Baseball when Rodriguez became a member of the “Evil Empire” Yankees. The deal rocked baseball, fueled a rivalry even more, and it was a precursor to the greatest comeback in history. However, the landscape of baseball would have been changed that much more if things went in the other direction, like an overturned call at first base. One deal impacted so much history for many teams and individuals. What could have been. Sometimes, the best deals are the ones that never actually happen.
For more MLB News and Updates Follow OPSN’s Nick Schaeflein @ptchr2424.
Filed under: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball History, Boston Red Sox, Bud Selig, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, derek jeter, Fantasy Baseball, Impact Players, jon lester, Major League Baseball, Manny Ramirez, MLB, MLB Rumors, New York Yankees, Outside Pitch Sports Network, Robinson Cano, Sports, Texas Rangers, Trade Rumors Tagged: Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Brandon McCarthy, Jon Lester, Magglio Ordonez, manny ramirez, MLB, MLB 2003 offseason, New York Yankees, nomar garciaparra, Robinson Cano, Sports, The Deal
