SEATTLE – Alex Rodriguez made Artie Kelly's 8-year-old son cry when he took off for Texas. The father is fed up, too.

Kelly, 43, planned to boo the one-time hero of his two young sons at Monday night's game between the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers at Safeco Field – the first for Rodriguez in his former hometown since the shortstop signed a $252 million contract with the Rangers, the biggest in sports.

Kelly also was making a sign on a giant tarp to hang from the framework of the Seattle Seahawks' new football stadium within view of Safeco Field. Kelly is an ironworker building the new stadium, and he also worked on Safeco.

"We don't appreciate building that stadium for Alex and the other superstars and have him walk away," Kelly said during a lunch break at the Stadium Market near the ballpark. "To go to Texas is a slap in the face.

"If it was New York or another big market I could understand. But to go to Arlington, Texas? What's in Arlington, Texas? I'm tired of him breaking all my little boys' hearts."

Audra Higgins, 25, who works for a publishing company near the stadium, said she would treat the game like any other.

"I don't really care. I'll just go watch the game," she said. "Whatever. We have a shortstop. I hope they lose, though. And I hope nobody riots."

Several Mariners fans eating lunch at Pyramid Alehouse – a popular pre- and post-game hangout across the street from Safeco – said they understood why Rodriguez took the big bucks.

"He went for the money. Who wouldn't?" pub manager Bob Bunich said. "He played good years for us."

"I still think he's a good guy," said Michael Jacovino, a refrigerator distributor who attends about 12 games a season. "I'm not going to bash Alex. He was classy and kept his mouth shut and did his time here. Then he took the highest bid."

Tim Bellflower said he thinks the Mariners made a "big mistake" when the organization issued a statement last week warning fans to behave.

"You threaten someone and you get a fight," said Bellflower, 43, a wholesale foods distributor. "They've created their own problem if there is an over-negative response."

Karl Sauskojus hopes Rodriguez receives a rude welcome.

"He played here a long time and all of a sudden he says he wants to be known as a Ranger. That's back-stabbing where your roots are," Sauskojus, 20, said.

Jake Bannister, 21, didn't have tickets for the game, but he had an opinion.

"I don't think anyone is worth $252 million," he said. "I don't care if they can play baseball."