Yankees and the A-Rod Conundrum: Part Two

Making somewhat of a case for Alex Rodriguez becomes rather limited. Sure, you can say “well the Yankees did agree to sign him for 10-year, $275 million, so they owe him.” That’s about where that side ends. The lying and the disrespect that came from Rodriguez absolutely voids his contract and the Yankees have been trying to find ways to get rid of the gargantuan contract. 

**Be sure to catch Part One of this story here**

Alex Rodriguez has put himself in the worst possible position imaginable. (Image: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees attempts at dismissing Rodriguez’s contract may be futile, but if it can prove to work out, I fully expect to never see Rodriguez in another baseball uniform again. Right now, the Yankees can hold their breath for a few options:

• Rodriguez decides to call it quits and retires
• Rodriguez’s injuries are ruled as career ending
• Have him play it out, but in a very, very, limited role which ultimately pushes him to retirement

Something tells me though that even though A-Rod is trying to fight this case, that it is not going to end in his favor. This marriage between the Yankees and Rodriguez was one that from the get-go was questionable. Despite winning two MVP awards and a World Series ring with the Yankees, the uneasy feeling has never subsided. Yankee fans never cared for Rodriguez much and honestly, how much of that is justifiable up until this point?

A-Rod was called a choke artist and someone who the Yankees could see beyond the 2009 postseason, wasn’t going to come up big in critical situations. Now, was A-Rod alone in the failed production? No, but some people feel that his obnoxious salary should make him beyond super human. Maybe Rodriguez felt he needed that edge and decided to take something in order to get a proper reaction. Whatever it was that got his name on this new list 16 times, I don’t know personally, but he just looks absolutely foolish.

Getting the elephant out of the room, Rodriguez’s career is finished. There is absolutely no way he can rebound from this, regardless of whether or not he’s guilty. He’s put himself in an irreversible position and there’s no way he can make up the necessary ground to even get a neutral reaction from the MLB, let alone Yankee fans.

So, where do the Yankees go from this giant mess? Well, for starters if they can get rid of Rodriguez’s contract, that’s a huge stepping stone for 2014’s spending. Perhaps Kevin Youkilis may get another year or two if he proves to be worth the signing. Maybe the Yankees can look at the market and see what’s available. Life after Rodriguez is entirely possible and if not for the better as his being the epicenter of the Yankees’ lack of production was astronomical.

I am not here to say that I or anyone else is a better person than Rodriguez; I do not have the authority to make such a judgment. However, Rodriguez’s character is one that goes just beyond baseball. He’s shown his true colors by trying to earn a false sense of trust and completely falling on his face in the end.

Even if A-Rod comes back, it shouldn’t be with the Yankees. We’ve talked before about the lack of production he has shown in the past few years. Well, imagine that, but worse. That is what A-Rod is going to give a team. Mentally, he’s not going to be where he was. Physically, he’s going to be slower and less likely to play the field anymore.

Rodriguez is finished with baseball and there’s nobody else to blame but himself.