Marlins President: Team Discussing Whether To Reach Out To A-Rod After Stanton Injury
MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Alex Rodriguez may soon get a call soon from his hometown team.
The Miami Marlins are in the market for a power hitter to replace injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who will likely miss the rest of the regular season. They're discussing whether to reach out to Rodriguez, president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Sunday.
Stanton strained his groin Saturday and is expected to be sidelined at least six weeks. Rodriguez, who grew up in South Florida and still lives here, played his final game for the New York Yankees on Friday.
"We're going to look at everything," Hill said. "There has been information out there about his situation. I have no idea what his interest level is to continue playing. He has something set up to move into the Yankees front office; I don't know where his head is on that."
Stanton, this year's Home Run Derby winner, leads the Marlins with 25 homers and 70 RBIs while batting .244. Justin Bour, who has 15 home runs, is sidelined with an ankle injury, creating a void at first base that Rodriguez could help fill.
The Marlins are contending for their first playoff berth since 2003. To overcome the loss of Stanton, Hill said, the front office will consider all options -- including Rodriguez.
"This team has played too well for too long," Hill said. "We're right in the thick of this thing, and we're going to do everything in our power to help in any way we can. If it's him, if it's someone else, we're going to try to find a way to make it happen.
"We're putting together our list of options. He's an available player, so he'll be on that list, and we'll see where it goes."
Rodriguez, 41, was unconditionally released Saturday by Yankees. He was batting .200 and said he's unsure whether he'll play again.
He needs only four homers to become the fourth player to hit 700, and the looming milestone might be a lure to continue his 22-year career. But he has played little in the field since 2013, complicating any role he might have with an NL team.
Rodriguez told WFAN's Mike Francesa last week that he was frustrated he had to walk away from the Yankees only being four home runs shy of 700.
"It is difficult. And I never thought about that. If you asked me 10 days ago, that wasn't an option. Of course, I thought that I would hit 700 and go on to do better things for our franchise. But again, that wasn't in the cards. It's frustrating. It's disappointing that I didn't get that opportunity," Rodriguez said.
Stanton and left-hander Adam Conley went on the disabled list Sunday, a double whammy for Miami.
Stanton hurt his left groin trying to stretch a single into a double. He went down awkwardly and was tagged out at second base to end an 8-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
"He looked like he got shot," manager Don Mattingly said. "You just see the leg give out. Obviously it's not a very good sign when you see that. Hopefully he's out a couple of weeks, and we get back at it. If not, we've got to do what we've got to do."
Conley gave up five runs in four innings and said he has been dealing with soreness in his pitching hand that has been getting worse. He hurt his hand banging it on the roof of the dugout at Wrigley Field celebrating a teammate's home run on Aug. 3.
The injury was diagnosed as tendinitis. Mattingly said it would likely force Conley to miss a turn, so the Marlins decided to put the youngster on the DL to give him a breather. Conley is 8-6 with a 3.84 ERA in 24 starts.
Infielder Robert Andino and reliever Hunter Cervenka were called up from Triple-A New Orleans.
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