Text size:

Ask Anthony: August 8

BY ANTHONY RIEBER | anthony.rieber@newsday.com

August 8, 2007

First, a quick note about the redesigned Newsday.com:

There are a lot of reasons why the Web site was redesigned, from wanting to give you more video to simplifying the layout so you can find certain features faster. What no one wants to talk about, but I will, is the real reason:

My head is now 1/8 of an inch bigger on the "Ask Anthony" logo. Because of that, I promise to give you 1/8 more effort in answering your questions.

Q: Can you tell me why Mets manager Willie Randolph had his arm in a sling?

Thanks, Mike, Fla.

A: He had surgery on his shoulder during the All-Star break.

(Here's my 1/8 more: It was his right shoulder.)

Q: Anthony, are the Yankees getting nervous about A-Rod opting out (which will happen anyway) by offering to open negotiations on an extension or is it a smokescreen. It seems to me that the Yankees secretly have had enough of A-Rod and his wife's tabloid headlines and may hope that he walks away.

Bob B., Moriches

A: Bob, before the season I thought A-Rod was going to walk for sure and that the Yankees wouldn't mind. I may have even written that in a previous mailbag. Like some of our presidential candidates, I have now "modified" my position. It doesn't mean I'm flip-flopping. It means my views have "evolved over time." Get off my back, Bob!

I think the Yankees offered to open negotiations a few weeks ago because they realize A-Rod is the best player in the game and is having the season of his life. I'm sure they also realized A-Rod and Scott Boras would not negotiate during the season. But it sends a little public love A-Rod's way and that probably won't hurt when it's time to talk turkey after the World Series.

The Yankees need A-Rod. Does A-Rod need the Yankees? I think it depends on what happens in the postseason (if the Yankees make it) and whether Boras/A-Rod think anyone else can match the awesome financial power of the Yankees. The Yankees can offer him hundreds of millions of dollars, but they'll want to get something done before he hits the open market so they can keep the Texas money.

(Here's my 1/8 more: the Texas money is the money Texas is paying A-Rod, about $27 million over the next three years; if he opts out and signs a brand-new contract with the Yankees, the Yankees won't realize those savings anymore. So it's in their best interests to sign him before he opts out. He has 10 days or so after the end of the World Series to decide whether to opt out.)

Q: Will the Mets make a trade before the deadline? If so, for who?

Kevin M.

A: Yes. They will get Luis Castillo from the Twins for a pair of minor leaguers.

Just kidding. Kevin sent me this question before the trade deadline and I am just now getting to it. So to do my 1/8 more, I'll answer as if he's talking about next season's trade deadline. Let's start again:

Q: Will the Mets make a trade before the deadline? If so, for who?

Kevin M.

A: Johan Santana.

Q: Anthony, what ever happened to Shea Hillenbrand? I thought he would be good for the Mets or Yankees as a righthanded hitter off the bench?

Alex P., Syosset

A: Didn't the Yankees trade for Hillenbrand? I thought I read that somewhere. (1/8 more: Hillenbrand signed a minor-league deal with San Diego on July 27).