Remember Alex Rodriguez? It might be hard considering the New York Yankees third baseman has been out of baseball for a full year, but the veteran is still under contract and will be back in uniform come 2015. It is unclear exactly what role Rodriguez will have when he returns to New York, something general manager Brian Cashman is working to set straight. As Chase Headley signs his name to a four-year, $52 million contract, Cashman notes that Rodriguez is no longer an everyday player.
Rodriguez will be coming off a season-long suspension for violations of baseball's drug policy. He will be turning 40 in July and has yet to play a full season of baseball since 2007 thanks to lee and hit injuries plus the suspension. According Cashman, when Rodriguez returns to the team, he will be relegated to the DH role while competing with Martin Prado as Headley's backup.
"I can't expect Alex to be anything," Cashman said, via The Associated Press. "I've got to think the worst and hope for the best. Even before the suspension, he wasn't the same player at third base on the defensive or offensive side. And that was before the suspension. And now he's been out of the game for a year. He's approaching 40 years of age. And just to automatically assume given his circumstances that he'll be able to plug right in, play third as an everyday guy and hold up and be productive, I think that would be dangerous thinking from my perspective, in the seat I'm sitting in."
Cashman confirms that he has not spoken with Rodriguez since the suspension which is why he is slowly building the team with Rodriguez on the outside looking it. Headley will now be taking over as a starter for the Yankees and Rodriguez will likely hug the bench during the duration of his contract.
"So given all that circumstance, we look forward to him hopefully solidifying himself as a tremendous DH for us, and if he shows he has retained athleticism, then he can play third as a choice when Joe decides to give Headley a rest," Cashman said.
The Yankees continue to make moves in the offseason. They have officially signed pitcher Chris Capuano to a one-year deal worth $5 million according to ESPNNewYork.com. According to ESPN, that contract shows that the Yankees will pursue Max Scherzer, but not to the tune of the monster contract he is demanding. The Yankees need pitching help after injuries hurt their lineup last season. The Yankees could try and pursue a contract for James Shields or trades for Cole Hamels or Jordan Zimmermann.