A-ROD could void final three years of contract…

J.D. Drew opted out of the final three seasons and $33 million of his contract with the Dodgers to make himself a free agent. Next year, they could face the same scenario with Alex Rodriguez.
Drew is represented by Scott Boras and said often in recent months, despite strong indications to the contrary, he liked Los Angeles and wanted to remain a Dodger.
A-Rod is represented by Boras and has said often, despite strong indications to the contrary, that he likes New York and wants to remain a Yankee.
After the 2007 season, Rodriguez has the right to void the final three years on his contract and declare free agency. He would be walking away from $81 million (of which the Yanks are responsible for $51 million, with the Rangers picking up the rest).
While Rodriguez is unlikely to get $27 million a year elsewhere, a canvas of executives at the GM meetings indicated he would have no problem landing a deal for six years at between $100-120 million.
After all, he will be just 32 when next season ends, is diligent about staying in shape, would be in striking distance of the all-time homer record with a six-year deal that starts in 2008, and many clubs feel he would regain his full comfort and success if he departed the Yankees.
The last part is probably the most important. Despite their worries on the issue, the Yanks felt Rodriguez is just too valuable to deal this off season - especially after trading the only other significant righty power threat, Gary Sheffield. And Rodriguez has not wanted to be seen as someone who could not handle the Yankees environment, so he has insisted he will not waive his no-trade clause.
However, how would he feel a year from now if the tension in his game and with Derek Jeter and Joe Torre had not abated? Would he really want to keep playing in discomfort just to prove a point?
After the 2008 and '09 seasons, Rodriguez could opt out of his contract, but only if someone else in the majors is paid more, and that is unlikely. So next year is really the window for A-Rod to control his destiny during the life of his 10-year contract. He fancies himself a businessman and, in Boras, he has the agent most adept at wielding leverage.
Following the 2007 season, Rodriguez will gain leverage to potentially follow one of three paths: 1) to opt out as a free agent; 2) to push the Yanks to extend his contract upon threat of opting out; 3) to use the threat of opting out and the Yanks getting nothing to push the Yanks to trade him to a desired spot so that he does not have to forfeit the $27 million annually.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said "because I do not have control" of a contract Rodriguez signed as a free agent with Texas, he does not worry about the potential.
"If he chooses [to leave], so be it," Cashman said. "He earned the rights he has in that contract through fair negotiations."