Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees will meet before 2015 season
By Phil Watson
Two weeks ago, there were reports that the New York Yankees had turned down a request from Alex Rodriguez to meet. Now, there will be a meeting.
In only the way that something not happening can make headlines in New York, two weeks ago there was a report in the New York Daily News that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had requested a meeting with the Yankees in order to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis mess.
Now, however, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that general manager Brian Cashman is singing an entirely different tune.
A-Rod has asked and been granted a meeting with the Yankees, GM Brian Cashman confirmed.
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) February 6, 2015
Brian Cashman said earlier reports that the Yankees had turned down a clear-the-air-meeting with A-Rod were not true.
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) February 6, 2015
Cashman said yesterday was the first time A-Rod requested a meeting and "we're more than happy to meet with him."
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) February 6, 2015
Rodriguez, 39, is returning for his 21st season—his 11th with the Yankees—after sitting out the entire 2014 campaign while serving a 162-game suspension for his role in obtaining performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami and his efforts to cover up his involvement with that activity.
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It’s worth noting that Rodriguez hasn’t played a full season since 2007, spending time on the disabled list each year since.
In 2013, Rodriguez missed all but 44 games after surgery on his hip and when he returned, he hit a very pedestrian .244/.348/.423 in 181 plate appearances, with seven home runs and 19 RBI.
From 2011-13, Rodriguez averaged only 88 games a season and had totals of 41 homers and 138 RBI—something that used to be about a normal single season for him.
There are questions where Rodriguez will play. In December, the Yankees re-signed third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million contract after he was acquired from the San Diego Padres in a July 22 trade.
Headley had a breakout season in San Diego in 2012, hitting 31 homers and leading the National League with 115 RBI, but his production has slipped since.
He rebounded to hit .262/.371/.398 with six homers and 17 RBI in 58 games in New York last season after hitting just .229/.296/.355 in 77 games for the Padres.
Following the retirement of Derek Jeter, the Yankees do have an opening at shortstop—a position Rodriguez once played.
But that was 12 years, several surgeries and one year-long suspension ago.
Rodriguez is still under contract for another three seasons, for a total of $61 million, and has 654 career home runs, six behind Willie Mays on the all-time list.
Passing Mays will trigger a $6 million bonus, as will passing Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762).
Those bonuses were part of a separate marketing deal, the prospects for which have been decimated by Rodriguez’s steroid admissions.
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