At this point in the 2014 season, fans — even New York Yankees fans — may very well have forgotten about Alex Rodriguez, AKA “A-Rod.” The slugging third baseman is spending the entire season serving his 162-game suspension for PED use and allegedly obstructing Major League Baseball’s investigation into Biogenesis. It appears now, though, that A-Rod has his sights set on resuming his position at third base once Spring Training 2015 begins next February.
FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi and the Associated Press report that Rodriguez “vowed he’ll return to the Yankees next season and finish out the remainder of his contract.” Morosi reiterated Yankees team president Hal Steibrenner’s wanting to see what A-Rod “has left in the tank” when Spring Training begins.
For the past two seasons, the Yankees’ offense has not hit like the Yankees normally do (.242 last year and .249 through August 14 this year). The loss of A-Rod to injury for most of last season had much to do with the team’s power outage, and serving the suspension this year has not helped the offense either. However, at age 37 (closer to 38) next spring, just what will he have left?
Gone are the days of 150+ games, 50+ home runs, 140+ RBI, and 20+ stolen bases. His last full season was 2007 when he played 158 games. He hit .314/.422/.645 with 54 HR and 156 RBI in winning his third A.L. MVP award that year. However, since then, he has averaged 111 games, .279 BA, 23 HR, and 78 RBI — good numbers for most players but nowhere near the worth of his $20+ million average salary still on his contract through 2017.
The Yankees currently have their answer for the “Who will play third base?” question: Chase Headley, a National League Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner in 2012 with the San Diego Padres. Headley is younger, 30, and he makes half the money that A-Rod would make next year. Headley, though, will become a free agent after this season ends, and after a down year in 2014, the Yankees could re-sign him for far less than A-Rod’s projected salary.
Rodriguez, though, is in control. He does have a contract, and he expects to play it out. He also expects to play better than he has in recent years. Morosi quoted him making this proclamation. Said A-Rod,
“I think that in the year 2014, the league could have done me a favor because I’ve played 20 years without a timeout. I think 2014 will be a year to rest, mentally, physically prepare myself for the future and begin a new chapter of my life.”
If they must bring Rodriguez back, then perhaps Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman could rework the contract for less money, allowing them to sign other players in attempt to return to glory. Otherwise, $20 million is far too much to pay for an average-level player, which A-Rod has become at this point in his career. Even better, the Yankees should find a way to sever ties with Rodriguez and the baggage he brings with him into the largest media market and either re-sign Headley or find another third baseman elsewhere.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images Sport
