Yankees want A-Rod to stay -- but will he?

The New York Yankees are trying to set up a meeting with Alex Rodriguez while they work on picking a manager.

Rodriguez has until the 10th day following the World Series to decide whether to opt out of his record $252 million, 10-year contract and become a free agent. The Yankees plan to offer him an extension and say they would drop out of talks if A-Rod opts out.

Hank Steinbrenner, a son of owner George Steinbrenner, said Friday the club probably will meet soon with Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras.

"The fact of the matter is, obviously we want him to stay," Hank Steinbrenner said. "And I think he wants to stay."

Rodriguez had a major-league-best 54 homers and 156 RBI this season, numbers that likely will earn him a third AL MVP award.

He is guaranteed salaries of $24 million in each of the next three seasons from the Yankees, who receive $21.3 million from Texas as part of the 2004 trade that brought A-Rod to New York. If Rodriguez opts out, the Yankees would lose that subsidy.