Independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz has ruled Alex Rodriguez is suspended for the entire 2014 season and postseason. But it’s A-Rod, so of course there still are questions that remain:
Q. OK, so this is over now, right? Rodriguez’s done for the year and that’s that?
A. Not quite yet. Rodriguez vows to fight this in federal court, and he could try to get an injunction on the suspension. However, those are major long shots. The courts usually respect binding arbitration.
Q. In theory, though, a judge could put a stop to this suspension and force the hands of Major League Baseball and the Yankees?
A. Yes, in theory. Then again, in theory, Rodriguez could become our next United States President.
Q. How did Horowitz arrive at his decision to reduce the suspension from 211 games to 162 games?
A. We don’t know precisely, and the only way Horowitz’s full explanation will ever become public is if Rodriguez’s legal battles advance. A common theory among the industry, however, is that Horowitz felt 211 games was slightly excessive and figured, because Rodriguez penalty originally was designed to keep him out through this season — the last 49 games of 2013 plus all 162 of ’14 — he might as well just keep it on the original time frame.
Q. Can Rodriguez still attend spring training?
A. He can, as per baseball’s Basic Agreement, and Rodriguez’s spokesman Ron Berkowitz said Saturday that A-Rod planned to be at Steinbrenner Field when position players report next month. The Yankees and Major League Baseball don’t want any part of this, of course, so expect some talks with the Players Association as well as Rodriguez himself to see if they can find a way to avoid yet another potential circus.
Q. Can Rodriguez play independent ball in 2014?
A. Only with the Yankees’ permission, since Rodriguez is under contract through 2017. You would think the Yankees would say, “Go ahead” and hope that Rodriguez suffers an injury that would relieve the team of its $61 million burden from 2015-17. In a similar vein, though, you would think A-Rod wouldn’t want to try something that could take the Yankees off the financial hook.
As for Rodriguez going to Japan, the Japan major leagues respect MLB’s rulings and wouldn’t engage in something that could be inferred as disrespectful.
Q. How much money does Rodriguez actually lose?
A. $22,131,147. His salary is $25 million, and because there are 183 days on the regular-season calendar, he gets docked for 162 of those days.
Q. How much luxury-tax relief do the Yankees receive?
A. $24,344,000. That’s the byproduct of calculations that dropped Rodriguez’s 2014 competitive-balance tax figure from $27.5 million to $3.156 million.
Q. What are the chances the Yankees can use this newly verified information that Rodriguez used illegal performance-enhancing drugs under their employ to void the rest of his contract?
A. Quite slim. Baseball’s Joint Drug Agreement is explicit that drug violations are a league issue, not a team issue. The Yankees have no right to try to recoup anymore.
Q. In that case, how about the Yankees just releasing Rodriguez?
A. That scenario has to be the leader in the clubhouse right now — $61 million over three years sounds a lot more palatable than $86 million over four years, doesn’t it? Would the Yankees actually want Rodriguez back on their team in 2015, given everything that has transpired and what might still be coming?
Q. So is it likely Rodriguez has played his final game in the major leagues?
A. Yes, but not by his choosing. It’s hard to envision another team wanting any part of Rodriguez if the Yankees release him.