A-Rod To Home-Run King Barry Bonds: 'I Want To Take Your Record'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- I'm coming for you, Barry!
Alex Rodriguez, in preparation for the upcoming season, worked out with legendary slugger Barry Bonds in January at the Future Prospects Baseball facility in San Rafael, California.
The Yankees' third baseman was suspended for the 2014 season because of his ties to performance-enhancing drugs, and he's determined to come back strong.
He also has lofty long-term aspirations.
"He was funny," Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He said, 'I want to take your record.' I said, 'That's OK. If that's what you want to do, we've got a lot of work to do.' I was excited he wanted to do it."
Bonds, of course, is referring to his all-time home-run record. The seven-time National League MVP is the home-run king, with 762 for his career. A-Rod is currently fifth on the list with 654, trailing Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.
The 39-year-old has his work cut out for him if he's going to hit 109 more homers. Yankees fans certainly wouldn't complain if he reached that milestone.
But the race for the home-run crown might get ugly. Last month, the New York Daily News reported that the Yankees "are preparing for a battle" to void bonuses tied to Rodriguez's ascension on the all-time list.
New York is also considering not making a $6 million payment to the 14-time All-Star if and when he hits six homers in 2015 and ties Mays for fourth all time.
Rodriguez is expected to mostly DH this season, with Chase Headley manning third base.