Should Alex Rodriguez Learn First Base For The Yankees?

Before next season, and quite possibly as soon as the end of this month, Alex Rodriguez won’t be suspended anymore. He’ll have $61 million coming to him over the next three seasons. The Yankees have to figure out if they want him back, or want to try and reach some sort of buyout agreement with him. There are many reasons for and against it, which is another topic for another day. For these purposes, I’m going to talk about one specific question, one that Joel Sherman of the NY Post posed in his latest column; should A-Rod learn first base?

For the Yankees, if A-Rod did it, he can backup Mark Teixeira at first. Tex has had a ton of injury issues this season, and the Yankees have used all sorts of guys from Chase Headley to Brian McCann backing up Tex at that position.  Rodriguez, no matter if he’s good or bad, keeps the Yankees in the headlines, even more so than they usually are, because Rodriguez will have that target on his back. Especially in the first post- Derek Jeter year, that kind of player may be something that’s important to them.

More from Yankees News

• Guy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auction
• Did Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?
• Andrew Benintendi-White Sox deal proves Yankees were right to prioritize Carlos Rodón
• Twins already bailing on Gary Sánchez emphasizes Yankees’ trade failure
• New Yankees No. 2 Carlos Rodón hates Astros, dominates them

For A-Rod, he’s coming off multiple hip surgeries. He’s 39-years-old.  He can play a little third, a little first and DH a little. It’s a way to keep him fresh when he’s only played in 44 games the past two seasons. It makes him a more valuable asset to the Yankees next season if they can move him around and try and get the most they can out of him.

The Yankees will no doubt be making headlines this off-season. One of the first will be what to do with Alex Rodriguez. If he’s still around and if Rodriguez is smart about things, he should learn first base.