Fansided

Alex Rodriguez reaches out to Chase Headley

By Phil Watson

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, the deposed New York Yankees third baseman coming off a one-year suspension, has reached out to his successor, Chase Headley.

In what is certain to be turned into the latest Alex Rodriguez-related controversy, the New York Yankees’ former third baseman has reportedly reached out to his replacement, Chase Headley.

According to The Associated Press, Headley said Rodriguez introduced himself shortly after Headley signed a four-year, $52 million free agent deal in December.

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“It was just more of an introduction,” Headley said. “I think we both care about winning. That’s the most important thing and that’s what we talked about.”

The Yankees acquired Headley in a July trade with the San Diego Padres, sending utility man Yangervis Solarta and minor-league right-hander Rafael De Paula to the Padres.

Headley, who led the National League in RBI in 2012, was slumping badly the last two seasons with San Diego, but recovered to hit .262/.371/.398 in 58 games in the Bronx, with six homers and 17 RBI.

Headley hit .286/.376/.498 in 2012, clubbing 31 homers and driving in 115 runs, but slid back dramatically in 2013 to .250/.347/.400 with 13 homers and just 50 RBI.

In 77 games with the Padres a season ago, Headley managed a slash line of just .229/.296/.355 with seven homers and 32 RBI.

Aug 22, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) hits against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley (12) hits against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Rodriguez is slated to be the Yankees’ designated hitter in 2015, with Headley set to become the everyday third baseman. But A-Rod would like to win back the job in the field.

Headley said that was not part of the December discussion.

“We didn’t talk about that,” Headley said. “That stuff will sort itself out. I’m not going to concern myself with that. I’m going to come out and try to do the best I can to do my job and however that shakes out, it will shake out.”

The Yankees begin full-squad workouts on Feb. 26. For Rodriguez, it will be his first official activity with the Yankees since the end of the 2013 season.

He was suspended for 162 games—the entire 2014 season—for his reported involvement with the notorious Biogenesis anti-aging clinic and its founder, Anthony Bosch.

But prior to the suspension, A-Rod had been in a steep three-season decline, slowed by injuries.

From 2011-13, he played in only 265 of 486 games for New York, hitting .269/.356/.441 with 41 homers and 138 RBI.

Those compare to his career numbers (and let the performance-enhancing drug morality police sing) of .299/.384/.558 over parts of 20 seasons.

Rodriguez has 654 career home runs, fifth all-time and six behind Hall of Famer Willie Mays. He was scheduled to receive sizable bonuses for passing Mays, hitting his 700th career home run and potentially passing Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) on the all-time list.

But that was before he went from merely wildly unpopular to socially toxic in the wake of the Biogenesis revelations.

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