Cashman: Alex Rodriguez The New DH

After the New York Yankees signed Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million contract on Monday morning, the next question that Yankees’ fans had to wonder was what that would mean for Alex Rodriguez. The 39-year-old is back from his season-long suspension and trying to make it into the Yankees’ lineup, but he won’t be playing much of the field, according to Yankees’ General manager Brian Cashman.

Cashman said on Tuesday:

“[Chase] Headley is the everyday third baseman and Alex, hopefully, will hit in the DH spot for us,’’ (h/t NY Post)

Notice that the key word Cashman used in this phrase is hopefully. Heading into 2015, Rodriguez is a player that should have no expectations attached to him, provided that he even makes it to Opening Day. He is owed $61 million over the final three years of his deal, but could this be the Yankees slowly phasing him out?

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That’s what made the Headley signing crucial in that you have a veteran at third base that is a solid defender at the position and you can put Prado at second base. Will Rodriguez buy in to being the full-time designated hitter? He showed good signs in 2013, when he played for the final two months of the year while appealing his suspension.

During those 44 games, he hit .244 with seven home runs and 19 RBI’s. However, in the month of September, Rodriguez hit a meager .203. I wonder though if Rodriguez is the best option for that spot, money aside. Wouldn’t the Yankees be better off keeping the DH spot in a rotational spot with the likes of Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Mark Teixeira.

Ever since the off-season began, I have said that the Yankees need to cut Rodriguez, eat the money, and have another team try to see what he has left if they want to take that chance. The health has to be an issue for a player that is coming off two hip surgeries.

In the end, when you go by Cashman’s comments, the Yankees are just hoping Rodriguez can stay healthy and give them something via offensive production near the bottom of the order:

"“Think for the worst and hope for the best,’’ replied Cashman. (h/t NY Post)"