1. Can the Yankees really trade Alex Rodriguez, and if so who might be interested?
Anyone could be traded — under the right circumstances. And the circumstances for the Yankees would be they have to either take on bad salaries (Miami’s Mark Buehrle/Heath Bell; Dodgers’ Carl Crawford; Angels’ Vernon Wells, Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano) and/or eat a whooping amount of the five years and $114 million Rodriguez has left.
2. How would eating a huge portion of A-Rod’s contract affect the Yankees’ stated desire to keep their luxury tax payroll under $189 million in 2014?
The Yanks are charged $27.5 million (the annual-average value of Rodriguez’s contract) each season. So if, for example, they got another team to pay $5 million a year, they would be charged $22.5 million, which would save something toward the $189 million goal. Two bugaboos: Of course, it will cost money to replace Rodriguez and also if he hits any of his $6 million per homer milestones of 660, 714, 755, 765 and 766, that also has to be paid by some team and it does count toward the luxury tax payroll.
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3. Is a contractual buyout a possibility?
Buyouts generally are not done in the majors. A-Rod would probably challenge the Yankees to release him and get all the money he is owed rather than accept any lump sum up front.
4. Is it possible Joe Girardi could be gone and A-Rod returns?
Upper management approves the Rodriguez-free lineups this postseason, so if Girardi loses his job it will have no tie to A-Rod.