While the Mariners have made a public declaration of their intention to trade Ken Griffey Jr., they have not shared an equally tantalizing deci-sion with the baseball world. According to a highly reliable major league source, the Mariners are planning to trade Alex Rodriguez as well.
A Mariner front office executive told a major league source in the last two days that the Mariners intend to trade Rodriguez rather than allow him to escape through free agency.
“They said they’re going to trade him,” the source said. “They don’t want to get caught with nothing.”
As with Griffey, there was no definitive timetable set for making a deal, but indications were the Mariners are at least prepared to go into the 2000 season without either player.
Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras were meeting with Mariner GM Pat Gillick in Las Vegas last night, but no deal was expected to arise from it. Boras has stated in the past that Rodriguez, probably the most attractive of all the free agent candidates over the next several years, would definitely seek free agency after next season, when he is expected to cash in on extraordinary riches.
Whereas there was speculation the Mariners could not sign either of their marquee players, there was some uncertainty about whether they would at least try to sign A-Rod, or just how they would deal with his impending departure. Some theorize the Mariners could play the first four months with Rodriguez and then reassess before July 31.
But it appears they are planning to trade him well before that. Unlike Griffey Jr., who is a 10-5 player and can veto any trade, Rodriguez has no such rights and can be traded at will. That may explain why Seattle made a public statement about Griffey and not A-Rod. Another reason may have been the staggering blow such a dual shock would have made to the Seattle fan base. But there could still be another declaration pending the Las Vegas summit.
If Rodriguez is available, then interested teams will have to choose between Griffey and Rodriguez. The Braves are considered the frontrunner for Griffey, but they may want Rodriguez. The Dodgers are thought to be in the hunt for A-Rod; but the Reds, on the other hand, are committed to getting Griffey Jr.
While the Yankees are secure at shortstop for as long as Derek Jeter is in Pinstripes, the Mets are known to be intrigued by the idea of getting Rodriguez. GM Steve Phillips said in the wake of the Griffey announcement that he would contact Gillick regarding any trade possibility, and in the course of discussions about Griffey, Rodriguez may be discussed as well.
Many of the Met decision makers see Rodriguez as a preferable alternative to Griffey because he is younger, more personable, potentially of equal talent, and he would be a magnificent cross-town foil to Jeter for years to come. There are those who also argue that it would be foolhardy to give up players and top prospects when they could just sign him as a free agent after 2000.
So while teams formulate strategies regarding Griffey, unless the Mariners change their minds after meeting with Rodriguez and Boras, A-Rod could actually be traded first.
