New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had a rough time in the 2012 playoffs and it looks as though it might take him longer to recover than anyone thought.
According to a report in the New York Post, Rodriguez will undergo hip surgery this offseason and will likely miss at least the beginning of the 2013 season. It will be his second surgical procedure on his hip, but his first on the left side. His previous surgery was on his right hip.
According to Joel Sherman at the New York Post, who wrote on Twitter:
"Hear exclusively Alex Rodriguez was playing with re-tear in surgically repaired hip Likely going for another surgery #Yankees (cont). A-Rod will miss at least piece of '13. Hope is surgery will allow for successful player again for #Yankees"
According to ESPN.com and the Post report, the surgery will take place in January and may keep him out until June.
The Post report also said that: "According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Rodriguez recently visited Dr. Marc Phillippon in Colorado after experiencing tightness in the hip that Phillippon operated on in 2009."
"It's an issue," the person told the Post. "A big issue."
Fox Sports is reporting that Rodriguez will miss 3-6 months following surgery on his left hip. Ken Rosenthal writes on Twitter:
"Source: A-Rod injury is to left hip, not surgically repaired right hip. Surgery in January; 3-6 month recovery. Pre-hab needed first."
Rosenthal is also reporting news that Rodriguez was on painkillers during the playoffs last season and that he had to be taken to the hospital one night.
He writes that Rodriguez was "on pain medication throughout the post-season. Pain so severe after one of DS games, he had to be taken to emergency room and spent night there."
Rodriguez had an awful run through the playoffs last season and was benched multiple times after hitting .120 with three hits in seven games and going 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts during a stretch for the Yankees.
The third baseman with be 38-years-old next season and still owed over $100 million on his contract, which runs to 2017. Last season he missed time with a wrist injury and hit for a .272 average with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 122 games.
Rodriguez last underwent hip surgery in 2009, after which he helped carry the Yankees to a World Series championship. He hit .365, with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 games during that postseason and the Yankees are hoping this surgery will have a similar effect to that one did.
The Yankees overcame a serious injury to Mariano Rivera last season, but the team had a high-priced player in Rafael Soriano waiting in the wings.
The Yankees have some players on the roster that could take over at third base, but none at the talent level of Rodriguez. The team retained Jayson Nix, who played the majority of third base while Rodriguez was out last season, and also has Eduardo Nunez, who has experience at third, but is more of a natural shortstop.
Derek Jeter is recovering from ankle surgery as well, meaning the very expensive left side of the infield for the Yankees may not be available on Opening Day. According to reports, Jeter is on schedule to recover by then, but there is still a chance he may not be fully healthy.
As the winter meetings begin on Monday, general manager Brian Cashman now has third baseman written down on his to-do list.
According to MLB.com, Cashman said on Sunday while at a holiday event:
"He is always going to have hip issues to deal with. That's just part of his winter program," Cashman said.
Rodriguez is one of the greatest home run hitters of all-time, but has been slowed in recent years due to age and injuries. He has 647 career home runs and has numerous incentives written into his contract that pay out bonuses if he makes it to the record of 762, which is held by Barry Bonds.
The third baseman admitted to taking steroids during his career in 2009, then proceeded to have a great regular season, hitting .286 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs while leading the Yankees to the World Series.
The past two seasons he has only hit 34 home runs in 221 combined games and has struck out 194 times.
There were rumors that the Yankees were planning to trade Rodriguez this offseason after benching him in the playoffs, but the injury appears to have taken that action off the table. His contract would be nearly impossible to move due to its size and length, and now with the hip issues acting up again, it looks like he will remain a Yankee.
