Fernando GalloChicago Cubs

Nobody cares about the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series, which was never more obvious than when Fox interrupted its coverage of Game 4 to announce that Alex Rodriguez, the biggest prima donna and second most selfish player in sports (after Kobe), was opting out of his contract with the Yankees. And sports fans, you’d better get used to hearing about good ol’ A-Rod because there will be daily updates on his status on every sports website and TV station until someone is dumb enough to sign him.

Not that it’s a bad thing to have the best player of his generation on your team, because in the regular season, there’s no one better. You can count on A-Rod to drive in over 100 runs and hit at least 35 homers without breaking a sweat, and he’s proven that he can hit a clutch home run…in April. The master of the postseason choke still hasn’t proven he can do it in October, though. To be fair, A-Rod can’t pitch, so you can’t blame him for the Yankees getting bounced from the playoffs this year after their pitchers were knocked around worse than a Broncos fan at a Raider game.

The reason a team would be foolish to sign A-Rod is the price tag that comes with him. A-Rod wants a long-term deal, and will command at least $30 million a year. So that puts a 10-year deal with A-Rod at a nice, low price of $300 million. That salary would be ridiculously absurd, especially when you consider the Tampa Bay Devil Rays had a team salary of $24.1 million last season. One team that’s known for making foolish decisions is the Chicago Cubs, so what better place is there for A-Rod to go?

The Cubbies will shell out about $290-$320 million for Mr. April, and he will be phenomenal in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field as the heart of a great lineup. And here’s the best part: He won’t have to worry about choking in the playoffs, because the Cubs hardly ever get there! Sounds like a match made in heaven.

Andrew EggersLos Angeles Dodgers

There is little doubt in my mind that Alex Rodriguez will be in a Dodger uniform on opening day next year. All the pieces to the puzzle will fall into place and I’ll explain why.

First reason – since the Dodgers play in Los Angeles, they are a large market team that has enough money to afford A-Rod. I think the big wigs in the organization would be smart to add Rodriguez because their lineup last year lacked a big-time home run threat in the middle of their lineup.

Second reason – former Yankee manager, Joe Torre, just signed on as the new manager of the Dodgers. I think if there is anyone A-Rod trusts as his manager, it’s Torre or Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella. I don’t think the Cubbies can afford to sign Rodriguez since they gave so much money to pitcher Carlos Zambrano, first baseman Derek Lee and outfielder Alfonso Soriano.

I know the critics out there remember that Torre did bat A-Rod eighth in the lineup in their playoff series against the Detroit Tigers last October. I think they do have a good relationship though. They both have something in common too; they both were under extreme pressure from the Yankee organization and their fans to win in the playoffs.

Third and final reason – A-Rod likes the attention of big city press and the chance to win the World Series. A-Rod obviously did not like playing in New York, so the next best place one would think is Los Angeles. He will have every chance to be just as big of a star as he was in New York, if not bigger in L.A. I think he’ll start endorsing products in commercials, making guest appearances on sitcoms, and don’t be surprised to see him acting on the silver screen in movies.

The Dodgers are a good team, even though their record didn’t reflect it. They missed the playoffs this past season but they do have a good nucleus of veterans and young players who would compliment A-Rod well.

It comes down to which team A-Rod wants to play for. He will sign with the team that can afford his humongous salary in a city that fits his personality the best. I think all signs point toward him coming to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he will finally win a championship and add the ultimate accomplishment to his Hall of Fame resume.

Alicia de la GarzaLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim

After playing seven years for the New York Yankees, third baseman Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract. I need to take a timeout for a second.

Is this guy really serious? Where else does he plan on going?

I mean, he always has the option of playing Triple-A ball. The Toledo Mud Hens made a good-natured deal toward him this week.

If A-Rod is smart, he will go tell his agent that dropping the Yankees contract was just a joke. What? Is the guy mad the team didn’t make it to the World Series? How many times can every team that didn’t even make the playoffs tell A-Rod to get some Kleenex and suck it up?

And as if Boston isn’t already on cloud nine for the World Series sweep of the Rockies, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon told David Letterman he would love to have A-Rod as a teammate.

Unfortunately, one of his only reasons for wanting A-Rod was so he wouldn’t have to pitch to him anymore.

Yeah, I want to depend on a pitcher who is afraid to pitch to me to close every game and hope we still win. I think A-Rod is a little bit better than that.

The question is where A-Rod should be going. And that is to the Los Angeles Angels. The team’s most expensive player is now gone and it has plenty of money to make A-Rod an offer.

Not to mention, the team is looking for a third baseman and someone who can knock a few out of the park.

Which team wouldn’t want a guy with two Golden Glove Awards, two American League MVP awards, and an American League Silver Slugger award?

Looks like L.A. has the ability to provide A-Rod with a nice home in sunny Southern California, and A-Rod looks like he can show L.A. exactly what it means to win a championship.

I don’t think A-Rod would mind hanging out in Southern California. Maybe he’ll run into Paris Hilton at Starbucks before practice.

Victor NietoSan Francisco Giants

So here’s the Giants’ chance to make a splash in the 2007-08 free agency period, a chance to make a historic movement toward finally achieving that elusive goal of bringing a World Series trophy to the “city by the bay.”

A chance for Giants’ general manager Brian Sabean to redeem himself from the catastrophic blunders of giving up “the farm” for A.J. Pierzynski and giving a one-trick pony of a pitcher with a high-school fastball and an inconsistent curve over $120 million.

Here is a chance to say goodbye to possibly the greatest player of his generation and San Francisco icon in Barry Bonds and welcome in the greatest baseball player of this generation in Alex Rodriquez to take that legendary place.

The Giants so far have made all the right moves in trading away Matt Morris and letting go of the high-priced perpetually injured Benitez as well as parting ways with the huge contract that Bonds still demands as a 43-year-old part time ballplayer. With all that freed up cash, it’s time to make good on an elite athlete.

No, Tori Hunter is not the answer and it’s definitely not Andruw Jones who will help the Giants regain its once prestigious national image. It’s A-Rod.

Last year the Giants were 25th in home runs and 27th in batting average and as of today look to be going into the 2008 season without any legitimate three, four and five hitters, unless somehow you would be satisfied with Pedro Feliz, with his below-.250 average for one of those spots.

A-Rod brings a bunch of media coverage, controversy and an ego large enough to match his regular season numbers, but he does provide the goods offensively. The guy led the league in home runs with 54 and runs batted in with 156, and hit a very respectable .312.

It was foolish of Sabean to offer Zito that monster contract that now hovers over him like an albatross wherever he goes, but if he doesn’t make this happen and the Giants and Barry Zito continue to underachieve while the team that A-Rod lands on excels, say goodbye to Sabean and hello to $1 hotdog Wednesdays across the bay at the coliseum.

The State Hornet staff can be reached at [email protected].