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A-ROD returns to Yankees after season-long suspension

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pitchers and catchers reported to their respective Major League Baseball teams today, but for the New York Yankees it will be the return of the highest-paid player in baseball history that makes the news. The 162 game suspension is over and 40-year-old A-Rod returns to the Bronx Bombers for spring training.
Alex Rodriguez will have to adjust from being an everyday player to taking on the DH, and possibly a first base backup, but manager Joe Girardi is optimistic about A-Rod's return to the New York Yankees.
"I haven't really put any numbers on it," Girardi said about what he expects from A-Rod during spring training.. "I think it's fair to give him a fair number of at-bats before you start to judge where you think he might be at. He's played 44 games in two years and did not play last year. I think it's going to take him a good part of Spring Training just to get his timing down."
"He's going to need to get his at-bats," Girardi said of a possible stint for A-Rod in the minors. "Will it come to a point where we have to send him to the Minor Leagues to get eight at-bats one day, maybe, to try to catch him up and speed up the process? It is a balance. We will have to balance, and communication is extremely important."
Girardi is even entertaining the notion of A-Rod backing up first baseman Mark Teixeira.
"That will be a conversation I have when he gets here, because I can have the conversation over the phone, but I can't see his face and reaction," Girardi said. "I want to have it in person. Everything that he said, he's willing to do everything to help us, and that's what you want from your players."
Rodriguez is only six home runs shy of tying Willie Mays (660) for 4th place on the all-time list.
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