Controversy continues to follow New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, as the specter of a lengthy suspension for performance enhancing drug use looms over him, but for now the Yankees will turn a blind eye.
A-Rod is hoping for a return to the Bronx Monday, and so is the Yankees front office. "That's the hope," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "We'll see through the weekend. We started the 20-day rehab and once we felt he could complete the 20 days and be available to us in Texas. So let's get through the weekend and see where he is at and see if he is major league able."
Rodriguez underwent hip surgery this offseason and has spent all of 2013 doing rehab. Rodriguez hasn't had great results in ten minor league rehab games, going 5-for-28 with one home run, but he's moving forward and will play at Triple A today.
Rodriguez is ignoring the numbers, as MLB players tend to do during their rehab stints, and focusing on how his body feels. "We're on schedule. After playing four straight games, seven or eight plus innings, and being able to play today if I had to, that's a great sign," he said.
Rodriguez's imminent return has quieted early speculation that his rush to get to rehab games, which prompted Cashman to say he should "shut the f-k up," was a ruse to declare himself unable to return, and retire with his riches before he could incur a wallet-chomping suspension.
A-Rod intends to play, and the suspension business, while dire, may not take effect until 2014 according to MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner, who noted the long appeals process would likely stretch the proceedings out until next year.
It has been reported A-Rod could be suspended for 100 games; typically first-time offenders receive 50-game suspensions, but Rodriguez's past admission of steroid use, plus lying about it would bump up the penalty.
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