Yankees News & Notes: Hal uneasy about A-Rod scenario, Youk calls Joba back

While the New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has been mum on the Alex Rodriguez situation, co-owner Hal Steinbrenner has not withheld his concern. Steinbrenner, looking at the deal his father made with Rodriguez, still owes A-Rod $114 million within the next five years. As far as baseball rivalries go, perhaps there hadn’t been a better one than between Joba Chamberlain and Kevin Youkilis. Chamberlain and Youkilis have had frequent run ins with each other in the past few years, but a simple phone call may have changed that for good.

Hal Steinbrenner has voiced much concern over the remaining $114 million on Rodriguez’s contract. (Image: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports)

Steinbrenner’s concerns about Rodriguez, while not surprising, are something that many Yankee fans have been wondering about. Rodriguez’s alleged linkage to performance-enhancing drugs certainly does not put anyone in an easy position and Steinbrenner has said that the team will work with the MLB the best they can. Whether or not this means the team will make a bigger effort to void the contract, Steinbrenner did not say.

"“It’s a concern, but it’s out of our hands,” Steinbrenner said. “We will cooperate with MLB any way we can, in any way we’re asked to, but other than that, there’s not much to say. I don’t know any more than you do.”"

The Yankees’ voiding of Rodriguez’s contract looks highly unlikely at this point and the $114 million owed to him is going nowhere. Rodriguez has continued to deny his connection with PEDs since admitting in 2009 that he took them when he was with the Texas Rangers.

In other news, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post, Chamberlain can finally rest easy now. After calling and leaving a voice mail for the newest Yankee, Chamberlain anxiously waited two months before he heard back from Youkilis. On the situation of their “rivalry” and the call back, Chamberlain had this to say:

"“Honestly, I don’t care. It’s his choice. I’m glad to have him on our side. He can hit balls to right field and I thoroughly enjoy that when it’s not against us.”"

Youkilis, who signed a one-year deal worth $12 million with the Yankees back in December, has a career .283/.384/.482 slash line and will see a lot of time at third base with Rodriguez out until at least mid-July.