If New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez's reputation has taken a hit recently, his employers seem willing to sink to his level to get rid of him.
According to Bloomberg View columnist Jonathan Mahler, the Yankees are trying to figure out how to avoid paying Rodriguez the remainder of his 10-year contract - $114 million - which expires in 2017.
The column contends that the Yankees could be secretly hoping that A-Rod is suspended for using performance enhancing drugs in the Biogenesis scandal so they can void his contract.
"It's a big contract," owner Hal Steinbrenner, who helped negotiate it, was quoted as saying. "We all hope he's going to act like a Yankee and do the best to live up to it."
The column points out that the team just gave a new contract to minor league outfielder Fernando Martinez, whose name also appears on the list of players who allegedly bought banned substances from the now-shut down anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla.
Mahler adds that the franchise intentionally is delaying his return to the team - Rodriguez began an assignment with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs on Tuesday as he recovers from offseason hip surgery - so that an insurance company will be forced to pay the bulk of his contract.
The argument makes sense out of the Yankees' response when Rodriguez initially tweeted last week that he received medical clearance from his hip surgeon to play competitively.
"You know what? When the Yankees want to announce something, (we will)," general manager Brian Cashman told ESPN New York. "Alex should just shut the f--- up. That's it. I'm going to call Alex now."
Rodriguez, who turns 38 on July 27, refused to apologize for the tweet.
"I will continue to work hard until my efforts get me back in pinstripes and help my team win," A-Rod said in a statement. "The tweet was pure excitement about Dr. Kelly's prognosis," several media outlets reported.
According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees and Rodriguez have worked out their differences. Rodriguez called Cashman and team president Randy Levine a day after the tweet blow-up.
"It was a constructive, healthy conversation," media relations director Jason Zillo said of the 30-minute call. "Everybody is on the same page, and we're all going to communicate and work together to get Alex back as quickly as possible. Everyone fully understands the protocol and processes in place. We're all back on track."
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