NEW YORK — Now that Alex Rodriguez has more home runs than lawsuits, the New York Yankees are happy with him.
The 39-year-old began Wednesday with a .248 batting average following his return from a season-long drug suspension, and his 10 home runs and 22 RBI were both second on the team behind Mark Teixeira.
“If he was healthy, I’ve always said he’d be a good asset, and he’s been a great asset,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said Wednesday before a meeting of Major League Baseball’s executive council. “He’s been playing well, and he’s been producing.”
The Yankees and Rodriguez publicly sniped at each other for 1 1/2 years. He refused to say in July 2013 whether he trusted the Yankees, would not speak with management without one of his lawyers and filed a medical malpractice suit against the team physician. He also sued MLB, then-commissioner Bud Selig and the players’ association.
He withdrew the suits and apologized for his actions. Now, even a dispute over a $6 million marketing bonus isn’t causing public acrimony.
While he has not played a full season since 2007 because of two hip surgeries and various injuries, Rodriguez appeared in 37 of the Yankees’ first 40 games, including 32 as a designated hitter.
“I think there were some unknowns there simply because it had been so long since he played and the age and the hip operations,” Steinbrenner said.
“But like I’ve always said about Alex, he works hard. Nobody was working harder in the offseason than him. He came to spring training in shape, and so far, so good. Could he be playing third base every day? No. Of course not. But the role that he’s been put in, it’s worked.
Steinbrenner did not discuss details of the dispute between Rodriguez and the team over a $6 million marketing bonus originally contemplated to be paid when Rodriguez hit his 660th home run, matching Willie Mays for fourth on the career list.
General manager Brian Cashman has said the Yankees feel they don’t owe the payment to Rodriguez, a stance that could trigger a grievance from the players’ association.
“If there’s any contractual obligations on our end, we’re going to meet them,” Steinbrenner said.
Rodriguez did make an unusual appearance Wednesday, attending a trade group meeting on Capitol Hill of members of the House Rules, and Ways and Means committees, and watching Senate debate from the visitors’ gallery.
Still, Rodriguez has not made a single controversial statement since reporting to spring training in February.
“I think he realized, as well as we … that none of that would be good for the team. And what matters most to me and to all of us and to him are the success of the team,” Steinbrenner said.
He wouldn’t say whether he thought Rodriguez was a changed person.
“I’m afraid I have a psychology major but I do not have a Ph.D. in psychology and I don’t do it for a living,” Steinbrenner said. “I haven’t even contemplated that, to be honest with you. All I know is he’s been great. He’s been great in the clubhouse. He’s been good with the young kids, and he’s performed.”
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