New York Yankees Rumors: Team Discusses Releasing Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira
New York Yankees rumors have the front office discussing the release of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. The Yankees releasing Rodriguez and Teixeira would certainly issue in a youth movement for the franchise, but general manager Brian Cashman might not be willing to take on that poison pill just yet. A report from CBS Sports confirms the Yankees rumors, stating that the team has indeed discussed the possibilities to “get on with the rebuild.”
It could be seen as an expensive maneuver, as Rodriguez is still under contract for the 2017 MLB season. He is slated to earn $21 million in salary, not counting any possible bonuses built into his deal. Teixeira is in the final season of his contract, meaning the team would only need to pay him for the remainder of the 2016 MLB season. It means the Yankees would be on the hook for roughly $16-$17 million even if they did decide to cut the former All-Star players.
These New York Yankees rumors are a product of the subpar seasons that Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira are having for the team. In 56 games this season, Rodriguez has gone 43-for-202 at the plate, working out to a 0.213 batting average. He has nine home runs and 29 RBIs, but Rodriguez is posting his worst OPS since becoming a full-time player (0.640). Life hasn’t been better for Teixeira, who has a 0.189 batting average over 228 at-bats, with a lowly 0.591 OPS to show for it.
It has long been rumored that the Yankees would deal Rodriguez and Teixeira if there were any takers, but no team has offered to take on the remainder of their 2016 salaries. It’s possible that a team could have interest in signing either player after they have been released, but that would be at a pro-rated portion of the league minimum. The Yankees would still be on the hook for most of their remaining salaries, even if they simply cut them from the 25-man roster.
The current MLB standings have the New York Yankees at 48-47 and fourth place in the American League East. The Yankees trail the first-place Boston Red Sox (54-39) by seven games, but are also 6 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles (54-40) and 5 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays (54-42). In the race for the second wild card slot, the Yankees are chasing the Blue Jays, putting the team 5 1/2 games out of the last AL playoff spot.
With 67 regular season games left on the schedule, the Yankees aren’t out of contention yet. That hasn’t stopped MLB trade rumors from surrounding the team, especially when it comes to the bullpen. Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller continue to get mentioned in trade rumors for any team in need of relief pitching. Chapman is in the final year of his contract, making him a relative bargain, but it would be considered a rental to many teams. Miller is still signed through the 2018 MLB season at $9 million per season.
One team that continuously gets linked in New York Yankees trade rumors are the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs could use some additional firepower in the bullpen, making a pitcher like Aroldis Chapman worth acquiring. Having Andrew Miller locked up for two more years would make him more valuable on the trade market, but that would also require giving up better prospects to get him away from New York. If one or both of the relievers get traded, it’s highly possible that many other moves follow.
The Yankees are in the difficult position of not being in a playoff spot, but also not far enough out of the race to actually start a fire sale. The team is in need of a youth movement, though, which is why many fans of the team may want these New York Yankees rumors to come to fruition.
[Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]
