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Yankees decide on Alex Rodriguez’s fate in New York

By Jeff Glauser

Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) is slow to get up after an inside pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) is slow to get up after an inside pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will he stay or will he go? Brian Cashman finally has an answer regarding Alex Rodriguez.

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With rumors swirling in recent days about Alex Rodriguez’s potential departure, New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman revealed to ESPN Radio on Wednesday that there are “no plans” to release the 41-year-old Rodriguez, citing the approximately $27 million owed to him through the 2017 season as a primary reason.

“First and foremost, you just have to flat-out admit, it is not easy to eat…that kind of money,”  Cashman said. He further defended the non-move by indicating there are other active players in the league under large contracts that “have been well-below-average players now for many years, not just a year.”

Rodriguez, who is now relegated to a role of part-time designated hitter, played in 151 games and hit 33 home runs for the Yankees last season, his highest totals since 2007 and 2008, respectively. However, those numbers have dipped considerably this year, presently batting just .204 with 9 HRs in 216 at bats.

A-Rod is in the tail end of a 10-year, $275 million extension signed with New York following an MVP year with the team in 2007. He is just four homers away from 700—a benchmark reached by only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth—and likely another motivating factor in keeping him around.

However, considering his newfound spot on the bench, there is no guarantee that it will occur in 2016. In fact, Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi said he is not sure if Rodriguez will play on Thursday against Mets’ right-hander Bartolo Colon, despite his ridiculous career numbers against him (23-for-52, eight home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.525 OPS).

However, Cashman did not rule the possibility of revisiting A-Rod’s release in the future. “If we at some point choose to do anything, that’s our right at any time,” he said. “For right now, that’s not something that’s being done.”

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