AN A-BOMB...FROM A-ROD! "A" OPTS OUT.

The announcement was made by A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, as the Red Sox battled the Rockies for the World Series, making the star hitter a free agent.

According to Boras, Rodriguez made his choice because he was uncertain whether Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte would return to the Yankees.

"Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do," Boras said. "He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were going."

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has repeatedly said that if "A" opts out, the Yankees will not participate in the bidding, so it looks like the "A"-Era is over.

As Michael Kay would say....Seeeeya!