Alex Rodriguez getting a new deal?

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the New York Yankees are now willing to work with Alex Rodriguez on a new contract extension. They had previously said that they didn't want to right now. I guess the odds that Rodriguez will stay rather then opt out of his deal and become a free-agent at the end of this year are heightened.

"The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman on a contract extension, MLB sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The key sticking point for the Yankees in the prospective negotiations is that Rodriguez agree not to opt out of his current contract after this season and agree to add any extension to the current contract, which expires after the 2010 season."

The Yankees still have players like Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada that will be looking for a new deal, both players will be free-agents at the end of the season. I know the Yanks will not let Rivera go, but Posada, I don't know.

Buster Olney also said that the Yankees are going to basically give Alex Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras a blank check.