Manny, A-Rod and Clemens: Unforgettable Date

Roger Clemens, the Dominican Manny Ramírez and Alex Rodríguez.

When we think of the baseball of the 1990s and 2000s, it would be almost impossible not to remember those three names as three of the elite players of the era. But aside from sharing a place among the titans of a generation of players, the trio have something else in common: They each made a huge impact on free agency history on the Dec. 13 date.

Each of these players’ pacts established a foundation in the industry at the time of signing, with the team and player making themselves felt and elevating the market. Here is a review of the three historical pacts that were signed on this same date:

December 13, 1996: Roger Clemens signs with the Blue Jays
A 13-year run that saw Clemens win three Cy Young Awards and an AL Most Valuable Player award came to an end on this day 25 years ago, when “The Rocket” reached a three-year deal and US $ 25.75 million with Toronto. The annual average of $ 8.25 million had set a record as the most for a pitcher at the time, surpassing the $ 7.75 million the Braves had awarded John Smoltz. The deal between Clemens and the Blue Jays also included a fourth-year option that was later guaranteed.

The move showed that the club was determined to fight, but at the time it was also a gamble for a rising squad, considering that Clemens entered his season at 34 and had just posted back-to-back seasons with an ERA worse than 3.50.

Clemens enjoyed a late-career rebound, beginning with his two years with the Canadian team. He was 41-13 at Toronto, earning back-to-back ERA and strikeout titles. Additionally, he received his fourth and fifth Young Circuit Cy Young Awards in 1997 and 1998.

Although the Blue Jays appeared to be building a talented rotation by pairing Clemens with Pat Hentgen (1996 Cy Young winner) and Juan Guzmán (EFE champion), Toronto couldn’t take the next step before sending Clemens to the Yankees in February 1999.

December 13, 2000: Manny Ramirez signs with the Red Sox
Patirrojos general manager Dan Duquette kicked off the club’s centennial celebration in a big way 21 years ago, snatching Ramirez from Cleveland with an eight-year, $ 160 million contract. (Although some sources indicate that it was made official on December 19). The contract would have made the Dominican the highest paid player in all of baseball, except that Rodriguez signed his staggering 10-year, $ 252 million contract with the Rangers in the same offseason. The player’s options for 2009 and 2010, valued at $ 20 million each, increased Ramirez’s contract to the original price he was seeking of 10 years and $ 200 million.

“I’m just tired of always seeing New York win,” said Ramirez – who grew up in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood – when he was presented in Boston.

It was an unprecedented investment for the Red Sox, but it paid off immediately. Ramirez blew the Green Monster on his first turn at Fenway Park in 2001, something he did countless times in his seven and a half years in Boston – especially against the Yankees. He was also instrumental in helping the Patirrojos break the spell in 2004, when he was selected for World Series MVP, and then helping the team to another title in 2007.

December 13, 2007: A-Rod renews with the Yankees
Rodriguez excels at setting a new peak in free agency twice during his unforgettable career. After pulling out of his first record deal after the last game of the 2007 Fall Classic, Rodriguez made history again 14 years ago, signing for 10 seasons and $ 275 million to stay with the Bombers.

Most will recall that A-Rod negotiated his new deal without his representative Scott Boras, after reports emerged that Yankees Vice President Hal Steinbrenner refused to negotiate because the team lost a $ 21.3 million subsidy from the Rangers when the star third baseman exercised his option to exit the contract.

“I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had hung up the phone,” Rodríguez said of the troubled start to his relationship with Steinbrenner. “I thought my career with the Yankees was over.”

But it was not like that. After winning the MVP award in 2007, Rodriguez led the American League with a .573 slugging in 2008, before helping the Bombers to their 27th title in 2009.

Despite signing the historic contract at age 32, Rodriguez played another nine seasons in the Bronx (with a possible 10th overturned for his all-season suspension in 2014), earning several performance bonuses as he approached the 3,000-hit club. and fourth place on the all-time home run list.