Alex Rodriguez’s Future With The New York Yankees Hanging Within The Balance
Tonight’s outcome can play a large role in determining Alex Rodriguez’s future with the New York Yankees.
[sc name=”Emmanuel Berbari” ]After being left out of the New York Yankees’ lineup for two consecutive days, Alex Rodriguez is expected to be back in there tonight against a left-hander. With Cole Hamels on the mound for Texas, things can go in various directions for the aging slugger.With Joe Girardi making it clear that this was a benching rather than your typical day off, a platoon seems to be well on its way. However, A-Rod’s performance in tonight’s ballgame can mean a lot to the 40-year-old’s future with the organization.
A breakout night and he may be right back in there tomorrow. An 0-4 and we may not see him until next week. A serviceable night and he proves that a righty-lefty DH platoon involving Carlos Beltran is the way to go.
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Take the middle of those three options and his future becomes extremely unclear. A DH that possesses no ability to pinch-run, play the field, and be versatile at any rate is simply a clog on a 25-man roster. If he is not hitting, and hitting at a torrent rate, his value to the organization plummets.
Brian Cashman has stated that discussion about a potential release has not come up as of yet. The key word there is “yet”.
A-Rod is a dead man walking if he is not producing. His .200 clip against right-handers will keep him out of the lineup tomorrow and Thursday, and his lack of a position will keep him out of the lineup this weekend in San Diego. Virtually no at-bats in five days results in no opportunity for a classic “guesser” to get his timing down.
[sc name=”Yankees Center” ]Considering his mistake of an extension started at $275 million in total value, the Yankees should happily jump on the idea of eating the approximate $32 million left on his contract through 2017. This is of course barring the continued underperformance of a man with 695 career homers.
Rodriguez told Newsday’s Erik Boland that “You haven’t heard the last of me”. Well, now it is time for him to prove it.
