Red Sox meet with A-Rod, MLB officials in New York
By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff, 12/16/2003
Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez and Boston general manager Theo Epstein met throughout the day today in New York with officials from Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association as talks continued about the possible restructuring of Rodriguez's record $252 million contract that could help clear the way for a trade of the superstar to Boston.
Gene Orza, the associate general counsel of the players association, said
he met with Rodriguez, his wife Cynthia, Epstein and Robert Manfred, the
executive vice president of labor relations and human resources of MLB.
The Red Sox and Rangers have been discussing a trade of Rodriguez to Boston
for Manny Ramirez and other considerations. One of the sticking points in
the trade is Rodriguez's contract. The Red Sox are hopeful that Rodriguez
will be willing to rework some parts of the contract, which was signed in
2000 for 10 years and is the biggest in baseball history.
If Texas and Boston work out a deal for Rodriguez, the American League's
Most Valuable player last year, the Red Sox would then look to trade their
All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who with his agent have been engaged
in sometimes contentious talks with the Sox about a contract extension.
Epstein and Rodriguez first met on Monday night in New York and all parties got together first thing Tuesday and met until early evening.
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