Fansided

Yankees decline meeting request from Alex Rodriguez

By Hayden Kane

Sep 20, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits a grand slam home run against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits a grand slam home run against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alex Rodriguez wanted to meet with the New York Yankees to clear things up before the start of the MLB season. They told him no.

One thing seems clear: like it or not, the return of Alex Rodriguez is going to be the top story for most of this year’s spring training.

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It’s the perfect storm. A controversial figure who was once the best player in baseball. A guy who stokes strong reactions and sparks debate. A name that gets clicks and gets eyeballs. As if all of that weren’t enough, that guy plays for the highest profile franchise in professional baseball.

There will be real baseball stories when spring training arrives, but Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees will trump them all. That will be the case no matter what, but certainly if ARod and the team continue to publicly fight with one another.

Rodriguez has been on an apology tour of sorts this week. He started by meeting with new commissioner Rob Manfred and had turned his attention next to the Yankees.

There’s just one problem: the Yankees rejected Rodriguez’s request for a meeting, and it sounds like they did so in no uncertain terms. According to a report from the New York Daily News:

"The disgraced superstar offered to meet face-to-face with team executives to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and clear the air before players report to Tampa next month, the Daily News has learned, but the Yankee brass declined the invitation, telling Rodriguez, “We’ll see you in spring training.”"

That sounds ominous, no? “We’ll see you in spring training.” I’m surprised it didn’t end with an insult, something like: “We’ll see you in spring training, punk” (or worse).

While one should be weary of reading too much into this report with the limited context provided, this still seems to evidence bitter feelings on the part of the Yankees. Considering the fact that they are going to pay a disgraced Alex Rodriguez $22 million to be a part-time designated hitter and general nuisance this season, who can blame them for being annoyed at this meeting request?

Between the injuries, the destroyed reputation, and the money left on Rodriguez’s deal between now and 2017, the Yankees and Rodriguez are far from their last battle. Maybe the Yankees are just pacing themselves by telling ARod to buzz off at this point, even if he claims that he wanted to apologize to them.

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