Yanks won’t pursue if A-Rod opts out

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman left no wiggle room Wednesday in reiterating that the Yankees will not negotiate with Alex Rodriguez if he exercises the opt-out clause in his contract next month.

Cashman has repeatedly said that it would be his recommendation not to negotiate with Rodriguez if he opts out of the contract, as they would lose the $22 million subsidy from the Texas Rangers over the next three seasons. Cashman acknowledged last week that even though he is the general manager, other people have stakes in the decision (i.e. owner George Steinbrenner and his sons, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner).

But Wednesday after meeting with the three Steinbrenners and other members of the Yankees brain trust, Cashman said the team absolutely does not plan to negotiate with Rodriguez if he opts out. Another source familiar with talks said the Steinbrenners are absolutely on board with that.

“Yes, I can affirm that,” Cashman said. “If Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract, we will not participate in his free agency. That is accurate and that is definitive.”

Rodriguez has three years and $81 million remaining on the 10-year, $252-million contract he signed with the Rangers in December 2000. He and his wife, Cynthia, spent the last several days meeting with agent Scott Boras in Newport Beach, Calif.

Boras has been talking up Rodriguez’s value in recent days. He described Rodriguez, who hit 54 homers and drove in 156 runs this season, as an IPN player, which stands for “iconic value,” “network value,” and “production value.”

The Yankees are willing to give Rodriguez a lucrative contract extension. Boras can not get other teams involved in negotiations unless Rodriguez opts out, and he needs to keep the Yankees involved to drive the dollars up.

The Yankees drew a line in the sand. Rodriguez will only return to the Yankees if he decides not to opt out.

Orioles hire Kranitz

Rick Kranitz was hired as the Baltimore Orioles pitching coach, replacing Leo Mazzone.

Kranitz was the pitching coach for the Florida Marlins the past two seasons.

The organization wanted to retain him for next year but he wanted to explore other options, and wasn’t with the club for the final six games of this season.

Kranitz worked with Orioles manager Dave Trembley and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail in the Chicago Cubs organization.

Kranitz takes over for Mazzone, who was fired last week with one year left on his three-year contract.

Rockies change plans

The Colorado Rockies have changed their plans for selling World Series tickets, switching to online purchases only.

Tickets were originally scheduled to go on sale at Coors Field and Rockies’ Dugout Stores in Denver on Monday using a lottery system for in-person transactions, as well as online. Instead, all sales will be online, starting at 10 a.m. Monday.