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Yankees Editorial: Is Alex Rodriguez a Better Option at 3B than Chase Headley?

By Michael Cambria|

Alex Rodriguez was once the overly-confident player who felt he could carry the entire New York Yankees roster on his own two shoulders.

This was best publicly expressed in the April 2001 Edition of Esquire Magazine in which he notoriously tried to bash Derek Jeter by saying, “he (Jeter) hits second — that’s totally different than third or fourth in the lineup. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie and Paul . You never say, ‘Don’t let Derek beat us.’ He’s never your concern.”

Obviously Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill were pawns for Rodriguez, who clearly wanted to illustrate the point that he was the back-bone of the New York Yankees, not Derek Jeter.

Does A-Rod still believe he is the man in New York? It’s tough to say. But many, including Joel Sherman of the New York Post would bet that Rodriguez believes no matter how long he’s been away from the game, his production level has not dropped below that of Chase Headley, Carlos Beltran, Garrett Jones or any other Yankee player in line to get more at-bats and playing time than Alex Rodriguez in 2015. 

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Sherman insists that the combination of A-Rod’s ego and insecurity still drives his daily workouts more than money itself. Witnessing the Yankees executives make move after move that sends him further and further down the depth chart can only add fuel to A-Rods fire, right?

Not so fast. It seems as if A-Rod is a villain who just has too much pessimism riding against him to have a successful 2015. For starters, he hasn’t been an every-day player for two years, he’ll turn 40 in the middle of the baseball season and he’s had major survey on both of his hips.

But Joel Sherman isn’t ready to write Alex Rodriguez off just yet.

"“In 58 games and 224 plate appearances for the Yankees after being traded from San Diego last year, Headley had six homers, 17 RBIs and a .768 OPS. The Yanks gave him a four-year, $52 million contract. When last we saw A-Rod in 2013, he played in 44 games and had 181 plate appearances. He had seven homers, 19 RBIs and a .771 OPS. The Yankees gave Headley his job.”"

While many would counter-argue Sherman by saying that the Yankees used part of the $52 million contract to buy the Gold Glove-caliber defense, younger age, switch-hitting bat and the exit strategy for A-Rod that came with Chase Headley, Joel Sherman is still convinced that A-Rod can serve as a better option at third base in 2015.

“Still”, Sherman says, “there is that .771 OPS, which, among other things.” Sherman went on to list that A-Rods 2013 stats:

"“1. Would have been the best on the Yankees last year for anyone who had at least 181 plate appearances.2. Were better than the AL’s average designated hitter in 2014 (.743).3. Beats all but two seasons in Jones’ six-year career.4. Beats all but two seasons in Headley’s nine-year career.”"

Though the odds appear to be anywhere other than on A-Rods side, Joel Sherman said this:

"“I wouldn’t bet much of my money on Garrett Jones or Chase Headley outperforming him in 2015. Something holds me back from kicking dirt on this grave.That mix of ego and insecurity that so often has derailed A-Rod probably now serves as his jet pack, making him want to show us all that even a withered weightlifter can outperform those guys in their best week.”"

What do you think Yankee fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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