Alex Rodriguez wants to stay a Yankee -- albeit after proving his open-market value -- and has gone out of his way to make it possible for the Yankees to climb down from their posturing and match any offer. If the Dodgers can afford to pay the $32 million a year, can the Yankees -- the richest franchise in sports -- plead poverty? Now we understand why Rodriguez did not meet with the Yankees or return their calls. He did not want to give the Yankees an opening to make him a good offer, leaking the details to the news media.
