Losers

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Scott Boras: When this thing is finally settled, Boras may not look quite as bad as he does right now. Right now, it looks as if the superagent to superstars evidently made a horrible decision to have A-Rod opt out of his last contract, and when everyone quickly figured that out, A-Rod slapped down the hired help, going over Boras' head to open talks with the Yankees. That's how it looks right now, at least.

But things are never quite as they seem with Boras. He is reportedly knee-deep in paperwork trying to put this deal together and, in the end, he will get his client a raise and set a new record for the most lucrative contract in sports. Plus, there's always that commission to comfort him.

Still, Boras didn't get A-Rod that crazy $350 million and, in fact, barely got him past the opening bell in the open market. Boras' rep as a killer negotiator is going to take a hit on this one. Somehow, he'll survive.

Mike Lowell: Before A-Rod pulled this U-turn, Lowell was sitting pretty, the top pick at third base for the two highest-moneyed franchises in the game. Now, his choices are considerably slimmer. According to one report, he could play first base, possibly, for the Yanks, a position he's never manned in the big leagues. He could go someplace less attractive to play third base; say, Philadelphia. Or he could simply stay with Boston, taking the three-year offer that's on the table, though he really wants four.

He'll get paid a lot of money wherever he plays. He just may not be able to get everything he wants.

The Boston Red Sox: The Yankees, your No. 1 rival, just reeled in the best player in the game. They're handing out lucrative contracts as if they were pocket schedules. They might try to sign away Lowell, your first choice to be your third baseman.

You just won the World Series, for crying out loud, and eveybody's looking at New York. It's never easy being the Sox.

The Angels: That major move that owner Arte Moreno has been talking about for years? Still waiting.

Derek Jeter: He remains, in many fans' minds, the king of the Yankees. Yet in many ways, he has been permanently relegated to second-tier status on his own team, not as talented as A-Rod and not as well paid. Sure, he has those rings. Sure, he's still a very good bat toward the top of the lineup. He is still the link to the most-recent Yankees' glories. But that was then. A-Rod is now.

Joe Torre: Torre is literally the odd man out. A-Rod won't be joining him with the Dodgers. Neither, in all likelihood, will Pettitte or Rivera. The Yanks, before the winter is over, may well be a better team without the man who led them to 12 straight postseasons and four World Series titles. Torre, meanwhile, is stuck with the dysfunctional, underachieving Dodgers.