 12/21/2003 11:43 PM ET
Hicks sets Tuesday deadline
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By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have set their final deadline concerning a potential deal for Alex Rodriguez.
On Sunday night, Rangers owner Tom Hicks said he wants a conclusion on the proposed trade with the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez -- one way or the other -- by 4 p.m. (CT) Tuesday or the deal is officially dead. A conclusion could come before Tuesday.
"I've talked to John Hart and I told him that if something has not occurred by Tuesday at 4 p.m. to proceed putting the team together and working toward 2004 with Alex Rodriguez as our shortstop," Hicks said. "This is a critical time in the offseason for us. There are a lot of non-tenders on the market and we have to make decisions. We have to lock in and make plans for this season."
Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino pronounced the deal dead last Thursday, but talks between Hicks, and Boston owners John Henry and Tom Werner have reportedly continued throughout the weekend. But with no deal in place, Rodriguez and his wife left New York and returned to Miami on Sunday. His agent Scott Boras returned home to California on Saturday blaming the Red Sox and the Rangers for not completing the deal.
"This potential deal is very complex and there are more parties involved than just the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox," Hicks said. "But at some point, it has to end one way or the other and we have to get locked in for 2004."
As for Hicks, he has not talked with a Red Sox official since Friday, but visited with Comissioner Bud Selig twice during the weekend.
"Our position has been consistent since the beginning," Hicks said. "We love Alex. He is the best in baseball, but we explored what could be a win-win opportunity for all involved. We only considered the opportunity because it would make us better faster, but we can still win with Alex. We are prepared to have him come back and be the leader in the clubhouse and on the field."
Hicks has dropped his demands, offering to take $13 million to $15 million instead of $25 million from the Red Sox for Ramirez's annual contract. The Red Sox have been hesitant to pay off Ramirez's annual contract considering the club would be assuming $167 million of Rodriguez's contract if they agreed to pay the $13 million.
"The parties have $13 million from Alex that they know they have to work with. They didn't know that before last week. That should be a real benefit," Boras told the Associated Press on Sunday night. "I think we've done our work being able to define exactly what restructuring means for Alex and the Boston Red Sox."
According to reports, Boras worked out a restructured contract, approved by the MLB Players Association, in which Rodriguez would reduce the overall value of his contract by $12-13 million in exchange for the right to use the Red Sox logo in merchandising and marketing ventures. The Red Sox originally tried to restructure Rodriguez's contract by $28-30 million but the Players Association vetoed the deal.
"Alex has had mixed feelings about the thing all along," Hicks said. "He wants to compete for the playoffs tomorrow with a team like Boston, but he also wants to be a champion in Texas and be a part of what we are doing in Texas. He loves Texas and he's happy being here."
Hicks added the potential trade has been a unique experience and the deal had the potential to be good for Boston, Texas and Major League Baseball. But any further delay is not good for anybody, he said.
Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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