The New York Yankees have had a quiet offseason in terms of free agency and roster movement, but internally tensions are high between the front office and disgraced slugger Alex Rodriguez.
After missing all of the 2014 season due to suspension, A-Rod is due back this year in an uncertain role. The Yankees re-signed third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million contract this season, presumably to play third base every day. Last season he was worth 21.6 runs defensively per Fangraphs between the Padres and Yankees.
General manager Brian Cashman also said this offseason that the team doesn't plan on A-Rod playing much third base in 2015, and that he'll be leaned on primarily as a designated hitter.
Now, news has leaked that Rodriguez attempted to set up a face-to-face with Yankees brass to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis performance enhancing drug scandal only to be told, "We'll see you in spring training."
Rodriguez has had face-to-face meetings with MLB executives to make his return smoother, some of which were attended by new commissioner Rob Manfred. According to The New York Daily News Manfred told A-Rod at the final meeting "You're done here. You're a Yankee and you have to work things out now with them."
The last time Rodriguez saw action on an MLB diamond was in 2012, when he appealed his original 252-game suspension and got on the field for 44 games. He slashed .244/.348/.423 in those 44 games, swatting seven home runs and recording 19 RBI. He hasn't hit 30 home runs since 2010, or batted .300 since 2008.
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