Alex Rodriguez hasn’t been the same player for a couple of years now, and now the New Yok Yankees might not be getting a glimpse of him at all in 2013. Last week, A-Rod underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. Doctors have given him an initial prognosis of 6 months to recover. While speaking to WFAN in NY, General Manager Brian Cashman did not put to rest the idea that the Yankees could play the entire season without A-Rod in the lineup.
“Yeah, I think because of the serious nature of the surgery and the condition he’s trying to recover from, ya know, there is that chance,” Cashman said Friday morning. “I would say it’s not going to be because Alex doesn’t do everything in his power to put himself in a position to get back and be healthy and productive.”
Cashman doesn’t believe that’s a likely scenario, but because the injury presents “unique circumstances ” he cannot discard it either.
“Best-case scenario he should be back, worst-case scenario he won’t be back or there might be something in between,” Cashman said. “But these are unique circumstances and new experiences injury-wise that has a very small history behind it in the last decade or so. It’s kind of an evolving situation. And there’s very few doctors that are trained under these circumstances, but he has one of the best.”
Years past, this might have been a crushing blow to the Yanks chances as far as contending for a World Series. However, Alex’s impact on the lineup isn’t nearly what it once was, though it probably bothers the Steinbrenners that they will be paying him $30 million this season to play limited baseball, or maybe none at all. That being said, while injured, A-Rod’s injury was a great detriment to the team. He was horrendous in the playoffs, going 0-18 against righties, including an abysmal 12 strikeouts.
The Yanks made preparations for the 2013 without A-Rod a month ago, when they inked former nemesis, Kevin Youkilis to a one-year deal.
It seems that they Yankees do believe there is something left in the tank for Rodriguez, and believe his injury is the biggest reason he had his worst season as a professional in 2012. At least that is the way they seem to be spinning it. After all, Rodriguez is under contract through the 2017 at that $30 million per rate.
Original Story:
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January 25, 2013
