A-Rod Confirms Split With Agent Boras
NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez and longtime agent Scott Boras have split.
"I'm not going to get into the details, but I will tell you that Scott and I had a good run," the New York Yankees slugger said Friday. "Nothing drastic happened, it's just at this point in my career my goal is to finish as a New York Yankee and be a world champion again. And some of the things I needed 20 years ago I really don't need now."
It's unlikely that Rodriguez will have to negotiate another contract during his playing career. The third baseman is in the third season of a record $275 million, 10-year deal that carries through the 2017 season, when he will turn 42.
Rodriguez has said he negotiated that contract without Boras' help. The three-time MVP opted out of his previous deal after the 2007 season but criticized Boras for the timing of that announcement, which came during Game 4 of the World Series between Boston and Colorado.
The players' association said its database still had Boras listed as Rodriguez's agent, but that could just be a matter of paperwork.
Boras negotiated the $252 million, 10-year contract Rodriguez signed with the Texas Rangers before the 2001 season. A-Rod, now seventh on baseball's career list with 604 home runs, was traded to the Yankees in February 2004.
Last year, he admitted using steroids from 2001-03 with Texas.
Currently sidelined with a strained left calf, Rodriguez is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He took batting practice and grounders on the field Friday before the Yankees played Toronto. He also ran the bases and said he felt no pain.
"Today was a good day," Rodriguez said. "That was a good test. Tomorrow's another one."
New York manager Joe Girardi said the plan is still for his cleanup hitter to return to the lineup Sunday, but Rodriguez put the timetable at Sunday to Tuesday.
"I'm going to wait and see," he said. "I don't want to over-promise."
To get more work in, Rodriguez said he'll face injured pitcher Andy Pettitte in simulated at-bats Saturday. Pettitte has been out since July 19 with a strained left groin and is trying to get back in the rotation.
Rodriguez said he'll wear cleats and push himself harder on Saturday. He plans to run the bases again, going first to third and scoring from second.
"Just want to make sure we cover everything before we get back out there," he said. "But today felt pretty good."
Rodriguez is hitting .265 with 21 homers and 97 RBIs for the AL East leaders, who finish their three-game series with Toronto on Sunday.
"Tell him to take another day. Don't rush yourself back," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said with a chuckle.
In other news, Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher was not in the starting lineup because of a stiff left knee that knocked him out of Thursday's game against Oakland after one inning. Austin Kearns started in right.
Derek Jeter was rested, with Eduardo Nunez starting in his place at shortstop.
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