On Sunday it was reported the New York Yankees are working to avoid paying Alex Rodriguez any milestone bonuses he were to reach over the next three seasons. On Tuesday night, it was reported the three-time MVP has support in his corner if that were to happen.
According to Dan Martin of the New York Post, the Major League Baseball Players Association will back Rodriguez if the Yankees move forward in their attempt to block the "marketing bonuses," as they're referred to. The 39-year-old is scheduled to receive a $6 million payment each time he ties the remaining four players ahead of him on the all-time home run list. If Rodriguez plays, he's almost guaranteed to get one of those payments because he's only six home runs behind Willie Mays' 660 mark. Babe Ruth's 714 seems to be a bit of a stretch for him.
However, the Yankees no longer view these marketing bonuses as worthwhile because of the slugger's association with performance-enhancing drugs that resulted in his suspension for the entire 2014 season. These bonuses are separate from Rodriguez's player contract - which will pay him $64 million over the next three seasons - and would require him to make public relations/promotional appearances after he achieved each milestone. That is no longer of any interest to the organization, with one source saying the relationship between the two is "never going to be repaired."
"The club plans to do battle with its onetime superstar over paying the bonuses, and is prepared to fight Rodriguez if he files a grievance with the Players' Association," the New York Daily News reported on Sunday.
But it is known Rodriguez won't be going down without a fight. He's already amassed excessive legal fees in trying to appeal his suspension by suing the MLB, the players union and the New York Yankees in the past year. He ended up dropping all three lawsuits when more and more evidence was unearthed that did not support his innocence. However, he will have a legitimate case this time around.
"The union would challenge any breach of contract with the union," a source close to the MLBPA said Tuesday, via the New York Post. "A player can't be punished again for something he's already been punished for. He is still a member [of the MLBPA] and that's how he will be considered. In this case and in any other."
It's been clear the Yankees are moving on from Rodriguez after all the distractions he has caused over the past few seasons. If the signing of third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million deal wasn't enough, this current attempt to void his bonuses should send a clearer message.
