Bygones will be Bygones – Yankees
At the top of the year, MLB made a statement with suspending Alex Rodriguez for the entire 2014 season. After previously being suspended in 2013 for steroid allegations, he would return to the diamond after appealing his suspension for role in the infamous Biogenesis baseball scandal.
During his suspension last January, Rodriguez even threatened to sue the MLB but later dropped his lawsuit and quietly sat out the entire 2014 season. Now with the Yankees season coming to an end today, team general manager Brian Cashman has reached out in bringing A-Rod back to the team.
While most have cited the Washington Heights third baseman had played his last days in pinstripes, the team is looking to make their way back to the playoffs in 2015 after missing consecutive seasons. Being guaranteed $61 million over the next three years was also taken into consideration for his return, as went into exile this year.
Cashman had this to say in a recent interview:
“I have already been talking to A-Rod, I talked to Alex about 10 days ago, trying to get his thought process on the best way to come back, whether it was winter ball or individual workouts. One thing about Alex, he always has been a hard worker. He is going to work out some point this winter with our staff in Tampa and looks forward to re-introducing himself. It’s been very professional, but when you deal with Alex on baseball, it’s always been good. I didn’t rehash anything from the past, it’s not productive. Same as Mark Teixeira and the same as Derek Jeter, I don’t know. I don’t have expectations because I don’t know what to expect.”
With New York finally seeing one of their first healthy seasons in 5 years, making the post-season will have many jobs on the lines – including Joe Girardi, who called out his team before Derek Jeter’s final Yankee Stadium game for their lackluster performance this year. We don’t expect another free agency spending frenzy this winter; but with A-Rod coming back, we’re certain many Yankee faithful will be behind their hometown player.