A-Rod loss to create winners

   The Texas Rangers have lost to the New York Yankees again.
   This time, the loss came in the form of the American League’s Most Valuable Player, Alex Rodriguez.
   The trade became official last Monday after rumors had circulated for a couple of weeks.
   In exchange for Rodriguez, the Yankees will trade second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a minor league player to be named.
   The Rangers will also pay the Yankees $43 million over the next seven years as well as a deferred $24 million to cover Rodriguez’s contract. As part of the agreement, the Rangers also purchased Rodriguez’s luxury suites at both The Ballpark at Arlington and the American Airlines Center in addition to his house in Dallas.
   Rodriguez had to make concessions himself. In New York, he will no longer play shortstop; instead, he will take over Yankees’ third baseman Aaron Boone’s position. Boone’s injury in January during a basketball game left the Yankees with a hole they hoped to fill with Rodriguez, and he agreed to change positions.
   On the plus side, from the trade of Rodriguez, the Rangers will save $112 million, allowing Hicks to sign several young players.
   The Yankees trade may have caught some people by surprise since, previously, there was talk Rodriguez would be traded to the Boston Red Sox.    However, that deal fell through in December. Red Sox owner John Henry made a public statement on Wednesday that he now believes the New York Yankees $190 million payroll warrants the idea that baseball needs a salary cap.
   The Red Sox have the second highest payroll in the league.