Speculation is rampant in New York that the team that hires Lou Pinella will also be the team for which Alex Rodriguez plays next season. While I don't know if that is even close to true, I will concede that on some level it makes sense. Part of the reason Torre's relationship with A-Rod is strained is Torre's relationship with Jeter and the other part is A-Rod's relationship with Pinella. Ever since leaving the Rays, Lou Pinella served as a cloud hanging over Torre's head. He's Steinbrenner's "Favorite Son" and loomed as a natural choice to replace Torre should the Boss ever decide to make the change. Adding to the intrigue was the revelation that when things were going badly for Alex this season, he didn't turn to Torre, but instead to Pinella. In fairness to Joe Torre's ego, he has done nothing to earn the confidence of Rodriguez, showing that when push comes to shove he will follow Jeter's lead and hang A-Rod out to dry in the press or worse, give Tom Verducci inside information about just how bad things in the clubhouse were for Alex this season. All of that has led to a fractured relationship that has added to speculation that with Torre back in the fold for 2007 Alex is on the block. If true, what better inducement could he have to waive his no trade clause than the opportunity to be reunited with his favorite manager? Pinella seems to be the front runner for two positions, either the Cubs or San Francisco Giants. Either team could use Alex, both can afford him financially (remember, thanks to the Texas Rangers Alex carries a price tag of $16 million a year rather than $25 million). So lets see what each team has to offer the Yankees in return for the 31 year-old superstar. Chicago Cubs: Any discussion of an A-Rod trade has to start with Carlos Zambrano. The Yankees need young pitching and Zambrano is a hard thrower with attitude - something the current Yankee rotation lacks. If Cub fans think that the Yankees would be willing to do an A-Rod deal for oft-injured Mark Prior they are kidding themselves. Brian Cashman is many things, stupid is not one of them. If the Cubs wanted to clear Prior's salary by including him in the trade that's one thing, but Prior wll not be the centerpiece. So how about this deal: Zambrano, Rich Hill, Ronny Cedeno for A-Rod Why the Cubs do it: A-Rod in that ball park will hit a million home runs. Combine that stadium with the friendly parks and poor pitching that dominate the rest of the NL Central and Alex will put up numbers that dwarf those of Albert Pujols. The Cubs would have a 3-4-5 of Lee, Rodriguez, Ramirez Why the Yankees do it: Zambrano would be the stud pitcher the Yankees desperately need. Yes he has control and attitude issues, but he's better than what's on the market and affordable enough to not prevent the Yankees from still making a play for Matzuka. Hill could also slot into the rotation and Cedeno is a good young player who would join Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano in the Yankees on-the-fly youth movement. How about the Giants San Fran would love to have some protection in the lineup for Bonds, and what's more A-Rod would be a superstar in place for the day Bonds retires. Plus how do you think the Giants would feel about someday marketing A-Rod passing Bonds for the all time homer record? The Giants don't have a lot of young talent, but they have some to spare, especially if they decide to make one more run with Bonds. Here's the trade: Matt Cain, Todd Linden, Merkin Valdez, and Travis Ishikawa for A-Rod and $6 million per year of A-Rod's contract. Why the Giants do the deal: It sounds like a lot I know. Two young pitchers and two top prospect position players but consider that Valdez is not a known quantity since he is having Tommy John surgery this winter and will likely miss all of next year. The Giants have organizational depth at both outfield and first base as well so the losses of Linden and Ishikawa may not be that insurmountable. Why the Yankees do the deal: Jason Giambi should never EVER play in the field (I have another blot that details how I would make him the full time DH), the plan as it stands is to groom Yankee prospect Eric Duncan into the first baseman of the future, the plan has hit some roadblocks along the way, mainly that Duncan has not been able to hit consistantly in the minors. He's still young so there is time, but Ishikawa is major league ready now and could be in the lineup as soon as next season. Cain would likewise be a key component of the Yankee rotation. With an older outfield Linden and Melky Cabrera could both be starters by 2008 and should Valdez come back from the surgery, he would likely be the best player of the bunch. Are either of these deals going to happen? Who knows. I'm not here to tell you what's going to happen, I'm here to float rumors and see what looks good. Though one rumor that has actually been confirmed as not being outlandish by those in the know is the idea I floated about Matsui to the Mariners. To recap that deal for those who did not read my earlier post: Matsui would go to Seattle for Sexson, Soriano and Jeremy Reed Matsui does not have a clause in his current contract that prohibits him from playing with Ichiro and while neither player likes eachother there is a growing concern in Seattle that Ichiro will leave after this coming season to either play in Japan or possibly Boston (in need of a Right Fielder and leadoff hitter). So much of what the Mariners do is based around marketing to Japan that the loss of Ichiro could be devestating and the only player who would offset that loss is believed to be Hideki Matsui. Financially the deal is a wash for the first two seasons of Matsui's contract (he makes 13 mil per while Sexson makes 14 mil per) and Reed has lost his position in Center to Ichiro and prospect Adam Jones, while Soriano has never lived up to his promise. For the Yankees it solves a couple of problems. It would clear an outfield spot for Melky Cabrera while not blocking Giambi from becoming the every day DH. Sexson would add right handed power to help offset the losses of Gary Sheffield and A-Rod, Jeremy Reed is a better option as a fourth outfielder than Bernie Williams, offering better defense and speed and Soriano would provide yet another power arm to the revamped pen, joining flamethrowers Brian Bruney, Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth.