The New York Yankees want embattled superstar Alex Rodriguez to meet with the media in an attempt to avoid a major distraction at the start of spring training next week. They are reportedly even willing to host the public apology at Yankee Stadium, according to Teri Thompson, Bill Madden and Nathaniel Vinton of the New York Daily News.
Rodriguez and the Yankees are still finalizing details regarding his public apology, per ESPN.com. The sides had a meeting on Tuesday, and team brass made the request as Rodriguez attempts to work his way back into the mix after his season-long suspension.
"According to sources close to the matter, should Rodriguez opt to have a press conference, the club’s preference is to avoid the media melee that is sure to surround A-Rod if the steroid-stained slugger delivers an apology prior to rejoining the Yankees after his season-long drug suspension," Thompson, Madden and Vinton reported. "The Yankees would rather have A-Rod meet the media in New York than anywhere in Tampa."
It's a difficult situation for the Yankees. They intended to have the returning Chase Headley start at third base, and there will be multiple players battling for at-bats as the designated hitter, including Rodriguez.
ESPN.com notes he's still owed more than $60 million over the next three years, not including additional bonuses he can earn by passing certain home run milestones. That's obviously a lot of money to pay what looks like a part-time player, at least at this stage. The longtime infielder doesn't think that will be the case, though.
While he's been mostly quiet leading up to his return, Steven Marcus of Newsday spoke with a source close to him about trying to earn a prominent role again:
Alex's mind is that job's not Headley's, it's Alex's to lose. That's what he thinks. Alex is going into training camp thinking that he is the starting third baseman, that if there's a competition, Headley's got to win it from him. It doesn't matter about the money, what they signed Headley for. This guy [Rodriguez] can play.
Good play has a way of silencing possible distractions. Whether that will be the case for Rodriguez in 2015 is a mystery. The last time Yankees fans saw him, he hit .244 with seven home runs in 44 games two years ago.
It seems as though New York would be content if his situation doesn't become a dark cloud that follows the team around all season. Whether a public apology at Yankee Stadium would help that cause is certainly up for debate.
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