A-Rod Upstages A-Dog: Is New York Big Enough for Rodriguez and Avery?

The day Sean Avery cleared waivers and was given the go-ahead by Dallas Stars doctors, he made headlines around the hockey world, but the great story of the prodigal son turned bad boy who is making a comeback was upstaged by baseball.

Alex Rodriguez admitted to using banned substances from 2001 to 2003, citing "an enormous amount of pressure to perform," and the baseball world went crazy.

Avery has never been accused of using steroids. He was suspended by the NHL and not invited back to his team because rude comments he made in a television interview, and the media ran with it.

Rodriguez, nicknamed "A-Rod," is considered one of the best all–around baseball players of all time. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939.

He currently plays third base for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.

Sean Avery, nicknamed "A-Dog," is considered one of the best pests in the NHL today. He is in the dog house with the Dallas Stars and the NHL, but it appears the New York Rangers want to let the dogs out. Avery’s double life of being a professional athlete while having an interest in fashion has prompted New Line Cinema to commission a screenplay.

In 2007, Rodriguez and the Yankees agreed to a 10-year, $275 million contract and $30 million more if he breaks the all-time home run record of 762. This contract was the richest in baseball history, breaking his previous record of $252 million.

Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars on Jul. 2, 2008. The Stars' Co-General Manager Brett Hull thought the team needed more fire and emotion on the ice, and felt Avery would fit the bill. The Stars recently sent Avery to the AHL, to play for the Hartford Wolfpack—a team affiliated with the New York Rangers.

If Avery's claimed by the New York Rangers or anyone else, the Stars would have to add half of Avery's salary to their cap hit. They would have a higher cap hit of $1.9 million for each of the next three seasons. They would save $2 million in cash.

The Stars could continue to pay Avery to not play on their team this season. As Avery is in the minors, he doesn't count against the cap. They could wait until the summer and buy him out.

If Dallas buys out Avery in the offseason, it will cost them $8 million, and that would come with a cap hit of $1.2 million for each of the next three years and $1.3 million per year for another three years after that.

Avery missed two and a half months of action, but he is now getting back in the game with the Wolf Pack and appears to be heading for the Rangers.