Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter believes that a possible ban-for-life or suspension for all of 2014 against Alex Rodriguez from the MLB could potentially benefit the Yankees as it would help the team get the controversial third baseman's $25 million salary off the books for next season.
With the ban, Showalter believes the Yankees could benefit as A-Rod's salary wouldn't count against the luxury tax and revenue sharing, which would give the team a chance to reach their goal of falling under owner Hal Steinbrenner's goal of a $189 million payroll for next season.
"If [MLB Commissioner] Bud [Selig] lets them get away with that, they're under the luxury tax," Showalter said according to USA Today Sports. "If they can reset, they can spend again and I guarantee you in two years Matt Wieters is in New York."
Wieters, who catches for Showalter's Orioles, is due to be a free agent in 2015. He's batting just .239 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs this season.
Rodriguez has been one of the main subjects in the MLB's investigation into a Biogenesis clinic in Miami that reportedly sold performance-enhancing drugs to players. A-Rod is believed to be tied to the clinic and may face a suspension like Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun did, or be banned from the sport for life within the coming days. While the suspension or ban will mean that the Yankees will lose A-Rod, who once hit 54 homeruns for the club back in 2007, Showalter sees it as more of a win for the team than a loss.
If the Yankees can get under the threshold of $189 million set by Steinbrenner, their luxury tax would slim down from 50 percent to 17 percent, according to ESPN. This would free the team to become buyers on the market.
The fate of Rodriguez is yet to be determined, but the slugger signed a 10-year $275 million deal with the Yankees prior to the 2007 season after opting out of his previous contract with the team, and Showalter feels like the Yankees should be accountable for signing him to the deal.
"They're the ones who signed him to that contract," Showalter said, according to USA Today.
Rodriguez, 38, hasn't played yet this season and is playing in a simulated game Thursday and hoping to return to the Yankees lineup amid rumors that his lawyers are talking to the MLB about the possibility of him serving a lengthy suspension, or possibly being banned from the sport.
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