New York Yankees To Contest Alex Rodriguez’ $6M Homerun Bonus

The New York Yankees are looking into legal arguments that will allow it to deny controversial hitter Alex Rodriguez almost $6 million in bonuses as part of the marketing agreement the two sides agreed upon way back 2007. According to the terms, Rodriguez is eligible for a $6 million bonus if he hits six more homers which would wrap him up in fourth place alongside Willie Mays.

The organization plans to use the Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) controversy of their troubled ward as the main argument over denying Rodriguez the bonus. As it stands, any homerun generated will no longer be a marketing deal given that Rodriguez’ name has been dragged publicly with PEDs and the Biogenesis scandal which resulted to his year-long suspension and a league-wide investigation on the issue.

Rodriguez reportedly made efforts to patch up the relationship with his organization by scheduling a face to face meeting with the Yankees’ top brass but was denied and instead told to prepare for the upcoming training camp which is just three weeks away. Rodriguez was granted meetings with Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, the latest of which happened last Wednesday. Rodriguez was advised by the league commissioner that as a member of the Yankees organization, it is his responsibility to deal with them.

“The disgraced superstar offered to meet face-to-face with team executives to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and clear the air before players report to Tampa next month, the Daily News has learned, but the Yankee brass declined the invitation, telling Rodriguez, ‘We’ll see you in spring training,’” New York Daily News described the efforts of Rodriguez to patch things up with the Yankees to no avail.

Due to the said development, it is expected that both sides will go on a collision course to resolve the homerun bonus provision in the marketing deal. The third baseman and shortstop has the right to file a grievance against his employers if he is denied the bonuses. This could pave the way to the re-surfacing of the PED and Biogenesis issues which has hounded the Ney York native for more than a year now.

The 39-year-old slugger reportedly looked thinner in recent media sightings and has dropped significant mass. The Yankees are still under contractual obligations to pay him the $61 million in the last three remaining years of his mega-deal.

For concerns on this article, contact the author at v.hidalgo@ibtimes.com.au.