A-Rod and W-Buf

It looks like A-Rod will re-sign with the Yankees. He’ll also win his third MVP award today. The Wall Street Journal reports that A-Rod got some help in his negotiations with the Yankees from none other than Warren Buffett:

Mr. Rodriguez’s initial defection happened in late October, a tense period for the team during which its beloved manager Joe Torre was effectively ousted after the Yankees were eliminated in the playoffs. Hoping to net a richer contract elsewhere, Mr. Boras advised his client to exercise his opt-out clause, a move reported Oct. 29. The player reluctantly took his agent’s advice, say people familiar with his thinking, even though he and his wife Cynthia were eager to stay in New York and have him continue to play for the Yankees.
Amid deafening criticism by sports writers and on talk radio, a worried Mr. Rodriguez called Mr. Buffett, say people familiar with the matter. The two had become friends a few years ago, after the slugger flew to Omaha to meet with the investing guru and rabid baseball fan. After that, the two met socially several more times, say the people familiar with the matter. Signifying their mutual admiration, an autographed Rodriguez jersey hangs at Berkshire Hathaway’s Omaha headquarters.
Mr. Buffett’s advice was simple, says a person familiar with the matter: approach the Yankees solo, without Mr. Boras. “A-Rod really loves being a Yankee,” says Mr. Buffett. He declined to comment on the substance of any conversation with Mr. Rodriguez, saying he doesn’t discuss private talks.

Of course, they’re not such an odd couple. A-Rod could be a billionaire before his career is up.

Posted by on November 19th, 2007 at 7:13 am


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