MLB: A-rod? Ridiculous or Brillance

On Monday, the 11th day of December, the Texas Rangers signed former Seattle Mariner Alex Rodriguez to the biggest contract in the history of sports. The deal, worth $252 million over 10 years, is under heavy scrutiny. Here are the numbers:

$615,634.15 per home run (41 last year)

$190,909.09 per run batted in (132 last year)

$144,000 per hit (175 hits last year)

$170,270.27 per game (148 games last year)

Alex Rodriguez, a career .309 hitter, now has more money than some third world countries. However ridiculous the amount of money is, the Texas Rangers are getting one of the top three players in the game. If A-Rod hits 50 home runs and has 145 RBIs next season, and can do it for the next 10 years, then the Rangers just might get their money's worth. It is unbelievable the price you have to pay for a winner.

Of course, the Mets were the front runners in acquiring A-Rod over the last off-season and during the regular season. However, when Met GM Steve Phillips saw the amount of money A-Rod would acquire, he backed off.

In the last week, the Rangers have added A-Rod, first baseman/DH Andres Galaraga and former NL MVP Ken Camminiti to go along with Rafael Palmerio and Ivan Rodriguez. It is apparent that Ranger owner Tom Hicks wants to win at all costs.

But, even with an extremely potent lineup, it does not assure a winner. Consider this: the Rangers' pitching staff is Rick Helling, Kenny Rogers, Darren Oliver, Doug Davis and Ryan Glynn.

This is, at best, a mediocre to poor pitching staff. And think to yourself, when was the last time you saw hitters and not pitchers win a Wworld Series?