TAMPA – The Yankees say they aren’t ticked at Alex Rodriguez and are not looking to void the biggest contract in baseball. Hank Steinbrenner even giggled at the idea of trading the best player in the game, who copped Monday to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03
Yet, the club admits it doesn’t know what to expect from Rodriguez on the field this coming season. At $32 million a year and what Rodriguez means to the lineup, that’s frightening.
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“Personally, no,” Steinbrenner said yesterday at George Steinbrenner Field, asked if he was mad at Rodriguez.
Asked about finding a way to get out from under the $275 million deal that has nine years left, Steinbrenner said, “No, no . . . it’s simply . . . that’s it basically.”
How about attempting to trade Rodriguez?
“I am not going to comment on anything like that [that] can get twisted, which happens in the media,” Steinbrenner said with a chuckle. “Basically, it’s no comment except that I support him and I am not personally angry at all.”
That could change if Rodriguez’s problems result in a miserable season on the field. According to GM Brian Cashman, it’s a jump ball as to how Rodriguez responds.
“I don’t know, you can never tell with these type of things,” Cashman said. “You don’t know how it will impact him professionally and personally. All you can do is put your arms around him and support him and help him pull through it.”
That’s easier said than done. Rodriguez’s five-year Yankees career has been full of distractions. However, this is easily the biggest crisis he has faced. Rodriguez’s legacy is forever tainted.
“You can’t predict how things will go,” Cashman said. “There will obviously be tough times. It’s a fair question. We will push forward through very difficult times.”
Cashman has experienced an ocean of crisis and distractions. So where does this rank?
“Right in the same spot with Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi,” Cashman said. “We have dealt with good and bad. It makes no sense to rate them. We will deal with it, but it won’t be easy. I thought [Rodriguez’s admission Monday] was an important first step.”
The Yankees are convinced Rodriguez is sincere when he says he hasn’t juiced since 2003. They point to MLB’s drug testing and the tests Rodriguez underwent for the 2006 WBC. However, MLB doesn’t test for human growth hormone.
Asked what his reaction was when he heard Saturday morning that Rodriguez failed a drug test six years ago, Cashman said, “It doesn’t matter.”
Cashman said he has talked to Rodriguez since the story broke, and the GM said he was unaware of George Steinbrenner’s reaction to the mess.
Talking on WFAN yesterday, Joe Girardi said he was blindsided by the news.
“I was a little surprised. I was not expecting that. I think all of us have always thought of as Alex not taking anything,” Girardi said. “I was a little bit shocked, but I was happy with the way he’s approached this and the way he’s dealt with this so far.”
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Dr. Christopher Ahmad has taken over from Dr. Stuart Hershon as the Yankees’ team physician. Ahmad worked with the Yankees a year ago. According to Cashman, Hershon, who spent 21 years with the Yankees, is staying with the team as a senior advisor of orthopedics.