Cashman Doesn’t Know What To Expect From A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez is quite possibly the Yankees’ biggest enigma heading into the 2015 season. He’s pushing 40-years-old, has a long history of injuries, and missed the entire 2014 season due to a Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) suspension. Not only is his remaining ability unknown to fans, but to members of the organization, including general manager Brian Cashman according to George King III of the NY Post.

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“I don’t know what to expect from Alex. It’s every color in the rainbow… The extreme hope is that you get the middle-of-the-lineup bat who can play third whenever you want if not all the time and be a productive middle of the lineup hitter. But at the same time the worst-case scenario that he is no longer a third baseman and is not a productive bat and you are looking for places to play, whether it’s the DH role or spot start here or there,’’ Cashman said on Friday.

Earlier this offseason, Cashman admitted to his belief that Rodriguez is no longer a suitable option at the hot corner. He stated that if the team acquires a third baseman this offseason, that player would start over A-Rod. He has also openly discussed moving the three-time MVP to first base for this coming season.

“We will find out once we get through spring training, when he knocks the rust off by playing again… He will be in great shape, he always is. We hope to get the positives that we spoke of. I can’t plan on it. That’s why I actually avoid penciling his name in for the same reason I avoided naming a closer last year when Mariano Rivera retired and [David] Robertson was up for the task for competing for that spot,’’ added Cashman.

The entire Yankees’ organization is right to be conflicted when it comes to Rodriguez. Though he ranks fifth on the all-time home run list, they don’t have much recent success to indicate a solid year in 2015.