Yankees Go With the Cash Flow

The satirical newspaper the Onion saw this one coming. One year ago, its mock story trumpeted how the New York Yankees had ensured another championship by signing every player in the major leagues, capping the spending spree by purchasing the record contract of Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriguez.

Life imitates art yet again. In order to fill a minor hole in an already powerful lineup, the Yankees have agreed to acquire Rodriguez and move him to third base, boldly and blatantly reinforcing their status as the team fans love -- or love to hate.

The blessing of Commissioner Bud Selig is all that remains before the Yankees and Rangers announce a trade that sends the reigning American League most valuable player to New York for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a minor leaguer to be determined later. The teams finalized the deal Sunday and the players’ union approved, with Selig expected to sign off today and the Yankees already planning a news conference Tuesday to introduce Rodriguez.

“That would be incredible for the Yankees,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s incredible any time the best player in baseball is traded, especially to a team with the history of the Yankees.”

The trade was made possible not by the Yankees’ rich history but by their rich treasury. While Angel fans giddily cheered as owner Arte Moreno drove his payroll over $100 million and braced for severe financial losses this season, the acquisition of Rodriguez balloons the Yankee payroll to about $200 million.

Still, with his own cable television network doubling as a cash machine, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner will make plenty of money this season, laughing off naive hopes within the industry that baseball’s enhanced revenue sharing and luxury taxes might restrain his spending. With Rodriguez aboard, the Yankees will pay at least $10 million to nine players this season, a total of $128 million for barely one-third of their roster.

To rid themselves of Rodriguez, the Rangers agreed to pay $67 million of the remaining $179 million of his contract. To rid himself of the Rangers, where he was best known for the $252-million deal that evolved into a franchise albatross, Rodriguez agreed to move from shortstop to third base.

“He knows his real legacy will be getting a world championship ring,” Scioscia said. “I’m sure that’s what he’s shooting for.”

Ranger owner Tom Hicks, shooting beyond legitimacy and toward dominance by signing Rodriguez to that 10-year contract, cut his losses after three years, and painfully so.

“My goal is that, after 10 years, it will have been a great business decision for Mr. Hicks,” Rodriguez told The Times in 2001. “Hopefully, we’ll have a couple championships along the way.”

Rodriguez distinguished himself on the field, but the Rangers finished in last place every year, with their average attendance declining each season. As the excitement surrounding his signing collapsed into repeated defeat, the Rangers failed to parlay his presence into the sale of naming rights to the Ballpark in Arlington or the widespread development of the hundreds of acres surrounding the stadium.

In all, counting their share of the balance of the contract, the Rangers paid him $140 million for three years of service.

In December, the Rangers and Boston Red Sox negotiated extensively on a trade that would have sent Rodriguez to Boston, where he would have replaced franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra at shortstop. Garciaparra is eligible for free agency this fall, and the Red Sox were unsure whether they could sign him.

But those negotiations collapsed, and Rodriguez steeled himself for another summer in Texas. After New York third baseman Aaron Boone tore up his knee playing basketball, the Yankees seized the opportunity to replace him with Rodriguez.

Boone might be best advised to avoid New England for, say, the rest of his life. His sudden-death home run in Game 7 of last year’s AL championship series sent the Yankees into the World Series and the Red Sox home for a long winter, and his injury enabled the hated Yankees to steal baseball’s best player.

“Say It Ain’t So,” read the headline in the Boston Globe.

“The Pennant Stays Here!” cried the headline in the New York Post.

On the websites of various major league teams, fans alternated between outrage and resignation at the Yankees’ latest purchase. On the Dodger site, one fan responded to a suggestion to boycott Yankee games with bitter humor.

“Let’s not boycott the Yankees this year,” the fan posted. “Let’s wait until next year, after they’ve signed Nomar to play second base.”

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Who’s New

A look at the Yankees acquired during the off-season:

*--* DATE PLAYERS Dec. 4 Pitcher Javier Vazquez (four-player trade with Expos for 1B Nick Johnson, OF Juan Rivera and LHP Randy Choate). Dec. 11 Pitcher Kevin Brown (from Dodgers for pitcher Jeff Weaver and minor league pitchers Yhency Brazoban and Brandon Weeden and $3 million). Dec. 17 Outfielder Gary Sheffield (free-agent signee from the Braves, to a three-year contract with a club option for 2007). Dec. 19 Infielder Miguel Cairo (free agent signed to a one-year contract). Dec. 22 Pitcher Paul Quantrill (free agent signed to a two-year contract with a club option for 2006). Dec. 23 Pitcher Tom Gordon (free agent signed to a two-year contract). Outfielder Kenny Lofton (free agent signed to a two-year contract). Jan. 12 First baseman Tony Clark (free agent signed to a one-year contract). Jan. 26 Second baseman Homer Bush (signed to a minor league contract). Jan. 28 Infielder Tyler Houston and outfielder Darren Bragg (signed to minor league contracts and invited to spring training). Feb. 6 Third baseman Mike Lamb (acquired from the Rangers for nonroster pitcher Jose Garcia). Feb. 15 * -- Shortstop Alex Rodriguez (acquired from the Rangers for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and minor league player to be determined).

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Who’s Gone

A look at the players the Yankees lost during the off-season:

* Free agency: Pitcher Antonio Osuna (Padres); pitcher Andy Pettitte (Astros); outfielder Karim Garcia (Mets); pitcher David Wells (Padres); catcher Michel Hernandez (Red Sox); pitcher Roger Clemens (Astros); pitcher Jeff Nelson (Rangers); pitcher Al Reyes (Devil Rays); infielder Bobby Smith (White Sox); third baseman Drew Henson (waived)

* Players traded: First baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera, pitcher Randy Choate (Expos); pitchers Jeff Weaver, Yhency Brazoban, Brandon Weeden (Dodgers); pitcher Chris Hammond (Athletics); pitcher Jose Garcia (Rangers); * -- second baseman Alfonso Soriano (Rangers).

* -- Pending approval by commissioner.