Part 2/8:

At the center of this matchup was Alex Rodriguez, a former Mariners star who had just signed a record-breaking contract with the Rangers, making headlines for his worth on and off the field. At only 24 years of age, Rodriguez had set the bar high for free-agent contracts, with expectations that he would continue to pave the way for athletes negotiating future deals. Meanwhile, the Mariners were in a position where they had to bid farewell to their franchise cornerstone.