2008 Starting lineup

1. Reggie Willits (lf)
2. Orlando Cabrera (ss)
3. ALEX RODRIGUEZ (3B)
4. Vladimir Guerrero (rf)
5. Casey Kotchman (1b)
6. Gary Matthews Jr. (cf)
7. Garrett Anderson (dh)
8. Mike Napoli (c)
9. Howie Kendrick (2b)

Could this be our line up next year? The New York Daily News reported Friday that the Yankees have "made it clear" to Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras, that if the player opts out, his days as a Yankee will be over.

The newspaper said the Yankees have no intention of being part of a bidding war if Rodriguez hits the open market. He's predestined to go down as one of the most gifted hitters who ever lived, one of the wealthiest men in the game's history and the youngest player to reach baseball's hallowed 500-homer plateau.

The future, like much of Rodriguez's past, is unpredictable. The monstrous contract negotiated by Boras in the winter of 2000-01 also contains a perfidious escape clauses that ensure Rodriguez's free agency freedom, if he wants it. Rodriguez has until 10 days after the World Series - Nov.10 at the latest - to opt out of the contract.

Our Angels - considered by many to be the front runner if A-Rod opts out – think it might be hard to give him the money he wants. Close to 200 million over eight years are some of the numbers floating around.

One source said that neither Angels manager Mike Scioscia nor GM Bill Stoneman is pushing to add Rodriguez but they said that Guerrero was too high of a price before we ended up signing him. This scenario will not be played out until just before Christmas. So start writing your letters to Santa and maybe this Christmas we will all get a present.