Though many believed he would continue to fight the 162-game suspension handed down by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz five days ago, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez said recently that he’ll use his mandatory stint away from Major League Baseball as a time to rest mentally and physically. Meeting with the media at a promotional appearance Wednesday in Mexico, the 14-time All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player said that while he is saddened by the recent course of events he hopes the spotlight is taken away from these proceedings and put back on the game of baseball.
“It's a very sad story,” Rodriguez said at a gym he’s associated with in Mexico City. “And we hope we can take it out of the newspapers and I hope we can start concentrating on all the good things the big league is doing with all the young players moving forward. I think that in the year 2014, the league could have done me a favor because I've played 20 years without a timeout. I think 2014 will be a year to rest mentally and physically prepare myself for the future and begin a new chapter of my life.”
Rodriguez lost his Biogenesis appeal earlier in the week and even though he understands he will not be able to suit up for the Yankees in 2014, the 38-year-old remains optimistic about his future in New York. Asked what he plans to do once the suspension comes to an end, the former Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers shortstop said he plans to finish his career in Pinstripes and hopes to play at a high level for the remainder of his contract. “I have 3 years left on my contract starting in 2015,” Rodriguez said. “And I hope to play very well and finish my career in New York.”
Current teammate and Yankee captain Derek Jeter added his thoughts on the recent ordeal while hosting his Turn 2 Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic Wednesday in Tampa, noting that he is saddened by the whole situation since he’s grown close with Rodriguez through the years.
“As a teammate, you're saddened by the whole thing. The whole thing's been kind of messy," Jeter said. “Other than that, it is what it is. I really have no more comments on it. You guys probably know more about it than I do. He's human, so I'm sure it's a rough situation, but you've got to ask him on that one. I've played with him more than I haven't in my career. You grow close with guys throughout the years, guys that you've played with for that long. I'm saddened by the whole situation. The whole situation is sad. Like I said, it's been messy.”
Former teammate and now-retired Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, also upset by the recent happenings, indicated that he’s not sure Rodriguez attending Spring Training would be in the players’ best interest. Rodriguez has stated in the past that he plans to attend New York’s preseason workouts but now that the suspension is in full gear, the 2009 World Series champion is unsure of his decision.
“I just hope that he thinks about everything and makes the decision later, not now, when he's mad,” Posada said. “I hope he makes the decision a little bit later and he makes the right decision. I'll leave that to him.”
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