Alex Rodriguez might be in Florida training for the upcoming MLB season, but the New York Yankees do not really want him. The Yankees have spent most of the offseason building a team that does not include Rodriguez after he was suspended for an entire season following a PED scandal. Rodriguez's contract means he is still part of the team, but the two sides are preparing to battle over several roster bonuses.
Rodriguez is trying to get back in the good graces of the MLB. He met with commissioner Rob Manfred in an attempt to apologize for everything and he aimed to do the same with the Yankees, but the team was uninterested in granting his meeting request. According to the New York Post, the Yankees do not plan on talking with Rodriguez until spring training which begins in a month in Tampa.
The main issue for Rodriguez falls with some roster bonuses along with $61 million owed by the Yankees through 2017. ESPNNewYork.com is reporting the Yankees have no interest in paying Rodriguez an extra $30 million for a milestone home run clause in his contract. The deal stats that if Rodriguez hits six more homers he will be elgible to receive a $6 million bonus as part of a 10-year contract. The Yankees want to void the deal because of the steroid issues.
The Yankees have been looking at ways to get money back from Rodriguez after the steroid claims since 2013. The Yankees will likely attempt to argue that Rodriguez has voided the marketing agreements since no companies are interested in him following the PED scandal. According to ESPN, the Yankees would like to void Rodriguez's contract altogether and simply get rid of him, but that is easier said than done considering he is owed $61 million over the next three years and all of it is guaranteed.
The Yankees continue to move past Rodriguez regardless of whether or not he is on the roster. The team signed Chase Headley to a deal and are prepared for him to start at third base, although Rodriguez is seeking a competition at the starting position. Earlier in the MLB Winter Meetings, general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that Rodriguez is merely a designated-hitter at best for the team.
At this point Alex Rodriguez is not the biggest issue for the Yankees. The team has replaced him, now they must worry about pitching as the last roster move. Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda all avoided arbitration. The team is hoping that CC Sabathia can come back from his 2014 struggles. According to league sources, the Yankees are still interested in Johan Santana.James Shields is also still available.