New York Yankees 2013 Recap: Alex Rodriguez

Sep 24, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman

walks back to the dugout after flying out to end the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

We’ve now reached the point in the New York Yankees recaps where we’ve gotten to the most polarizing baseball player (and maybe even athlete) of the 21st century. Alex Rodriguez ended 2012, injured, flirting with girls during playoff games, being pinch hit for, and then getting another hip surgery. Then came the reports of him being involved in the Biogenesis scandal and then, while rehabbing his hip injury, being suspended for a record 211 games. The organization went from not wanting anything to do with him, to hoping he’s a big piece of the 2014 puzzle.  The appeal process is ongoing, and the answer to that question may go a long way into figuring out answers to the on field questions in 2014. Let’s look at what A-Rod did on the field in 2013.

2013 stats: 44 games. .244/.348/.423, seven homeruns, 19 RBI. 0.3 WAR

2013 Game Of The Year: August 18 in Boston against the Red Sox. In the Yankees 9-6 win, Rodriguez went 3-4, scored twice, was hit by a pitch, homered and drove in two runs.

2014 Outlook: The first question is how long is he suspended for. 50 games? 100 games? The entire year? We really don’t know. When Rodriguez was healthy during this year, he looked pretty good and was pretty productive. Then his legs went, and his production plummeted. He’s going to turn 39 on July 27, and he certainly wont’ be able to play everyday at third base. He’s going to have to DH quite a bit, when and if he plays. He’s still an important part to this team, and when he was healthy, it was a completely different lineup. We now wait to see how long he can play.