3 reasons why Alex Rodriguez shouldn’t get his home run milestone bonus

Feb 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) works out for spring training at Yankees Minor League Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) works out for spring training at Yankees Minor League Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez are going to arbitration over a milestone bonus that the serial cheater does not deserve.


Feb 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) works out for spring training at Yankees Minor League Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) works out for spring training at Yankees Minor League Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Alex Rodriguez is on the verge of a major career milestone. With 658 career home runs, he is only two bombs away from tying the beloved Willie Mays for fourth place on Major League Baseball‘s all-time home run list
Milestones are usually cause for celebration. Unfortunately for the MLB, Rodriguez’s achievement will bring with it nothing but an enormous amount of controversy and little reason to celebrate.

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Rightfully so, the New York Yankees are refusing to acknowledge their designated hitter’s achievement, but they still find themselves stuck in the middle of the situation. They owe Rodriguez a major bonus for achieving the milestone, and the organization has been staunch in their stance to not reward the proven cheater.

The problem is, the Yankees’ decision to put the $6 million bonus in his contract was their own doing, with a major marketing ploy in mind. This, of course, was before it was discovered for the second time in his career that he was using performance-enhancing drugs, and as a result Rodriguez was handed down the largest PED-related suspension in MLB history.

The suspension resulted in A-Rod missing the entire 2014 season, and sparked the beginning of high-profile contract-related disputes between the Yankees and their embattled DH.

If they Yankees are forced to pay up, it is of no fault other than their own. The situation will ultimately be decided in arbitration, and it could be months before the outcome is revealed, but here are three reasons why Rodriguez should not receive his bonus.

Next: Rewarding a proven cheater