MLB Baseball Superstar Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees are close to finally having a deal

And the Yankee fans will probably breathe easier by then.

Apparently, the New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez have already agreed to the outline of a record $275 million, 10-year contract that would let A-Rod earn millions more if he can set the career home run record and erase Barry Bonds' steroid-powered ass from the MLB record books.

The source revealed the amount of guaranteed money on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal hasn't been finalized yet. Alex Rodriguez and his wife met with Hal and Hank Steinbrenner Wednesday in Tampa, Fla.

''The meeting was a final get-together,'' New York Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said. ''He wanted to make sure myself and my brother knew that he was sincere and serious.''

''The Yankees have never had a player since Babe Ruth that really had a 100 percent chance of setting the record,'' Steinbrenner added. ''[Mickey] Mantle should have, but he had too many injuries. It's a historical achievement bonus more than it is an incentive bonus. There is no yearly incentive bonus.''

This provision must be drafted by the New York Yankees very very carefully because of Major League Rule 3 (b) (5), which states that no contract shall be approved ''if it contains a bonus for playing, pitching or batting skill or if it provides for the payment of a bonus contingent on the standing of the signing club at the end of the championship season.''

Curt Schilling of Yankees' rivals, Boston Red Sox, was not surprised that the Yankees are willing to pay A-Rod that much.

''None of us are worth that much relative to 'real world' salaries,'' Curt Schilling wrote on his website. ''But if someone in the game was getting a contract that big, I am not sure you could argue it being Alex. On the field this guy is the MVP-in-waiting every year, it seems.''

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Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees