A-Rod signs multi-year endorsement deal with Nike

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Latino Legends in Sports News.

A-Rod signs multi-year endorsement deal with Nike

Written by Ozzie Gonzalez, www.latinosportslegends.com

June 22, 2005 -- Latino third-baseman of the New York Yankees, Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez, has worn Nike products for years, but never had an endorsement deal for wearing the popular line of the apparel and sneaker company until now.

"Nike has had a long-standing relationship with A-Rod and this just formalizes it," Nike spokesman Rodney Knox said.

Knox declined to comment on what products Nike will roll out using Rodriguez's name. He also declined to give specifics of the deal, but a report in industry publication Sports Business Journal pegged the contract as a five-year agreement worth as much as $1 million a year depending on performance and sales.

The five-year contract, which began at the start of the baseball season, will cover "everything but his glove and his bat," said Scott Boras, Rodriguez' agent. Apparel in the works include cleats, as well as sunglasses, he said.

Rodriguez, one of baseball's most talented players, was traded to the Yankees by the Texas Rangers before the 2004 season. In 2000, he signed a $252 million contract over 10 years with the Rangers. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners.

While A-Rod is racking up the endorsements, earlier this month, Nike confirmed it had dropped Jason Giambi, from their roster.

It is not known whether the company's decision not to renew Giambi's contract is related to his reported admission of steroid use or is a result of his poor performance on the field.