Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees are discussing a deal that seems very likely to put the superstar third baseman back in pinstripes only two weeks after team officials had said "good-bye" to baseball's best everyday player. A 10-year megadeal for about $280 million -- yet another record contract for A-Rod -- is expected to be completed in the next day or two. There is a great deal of optimism that an accord can be struck soon, as the sides were down to discussing incentive monies and contract language, an indication they possibly were in the final stages of negotiation. But while an agreement seemed extremely likely, both sides cautioned late Wednesday that it had yet to be completed. The new contract is likely to include an unprecedented incentive package that could put the total package at well over $300 million. It's the right deal for the Yankees in any case, since there would have been no way to replace A-Rod's 54 home runs and 156 RBIs, they didn't love the other third-base options, and they cringed at the idea of trading a top young starting pitcher like Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes for Marlins' wunderkind Miguel Cabrera. Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, was in negotiations Wednesday with top Yankees' people in an effort to wrap up what will be the biggest individual contract in sports history, easily eclipsing A-Rod's former $252 million deal, despite its circuitous route to this point. But while the deal will easily surpass the eight-year, $220 million proposal the Yankees seemed prepared to offer before Rodriguez opted out, it will also be short of the $350 million figure he was reportedly hoping to land.