Cashman Says A-Rod's Yankees Career Is Like 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Not too many Yankees fans are high on Alex Rodriguez these days.
Between his presence in the tabloids, his injury problems, his alleged connection to the Biogenesis clinic in Miami and his declining production, impatience has grown among the Bronx Bombers' faithful.
Oh, and then there's his massive contract. That certainly doesn't help.
"(It's) complicated," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told ESPN on Sunday when speaking about A-Rod's time in the Bronx. "It's kind of like the Clint Eastwood movie, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.'"
The 14-time All-Star is out until at least after the All-Star break. He underwent hip surgery in January but is now making some significant progress. He's been taking on-field batting practice and is in his fifth week of baseball activities.
"Hopefully he can return to being, at the very least, an above-average player at (third base), because that's what he's been for the last few years," Cashman told the network. "Once his injuries came into play with him, they may have taken away his ability to be a superstar. But he's still an above-average player at that position and hopefully that's what we're going to get."
After being traded to the Yankees in 2004, the third baseman signed a 10-year, $275 million contract with the club in December of 2007. The slugger is still owed $114 million over the final five years of the deal (including this season, in which he's earning $28 million despite not having played a single game).
"It's something I think even Alex would tell you, he couldn't live up to that (contract)," Cashman told ESPN. "It's an enormous contract and I think that, I would say probably, he couldn't live up to it. But he's doing everything he can to try to do so."
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player struggled mightily in the postseason in 2012, going 3-for-25 with no homers and no RBIs. During the regular season, he batted .272 with 18 homers and 57 RBIs in 122 games.
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