Kevin Aherne - [email protected] It was the most predictable of outcomes. When Major League Baseball handed down its 211-game suspension to maligned slugger Alex Rodriguez, it was generally understood that an appeal--and subsequent reduction--would follow. In fact, the prevailing theory around baseball is that the number 211 was settled upon based on knowing this, and the original goal was to force Rodriguez out of baseball for all of 2014. Now that theory has come to fruition, with independent arbitrator Frederic Horowitz' decision to reduce the suspension to 162 games, plus any potential playoff games in 2014. This actually helps the Yankees With the suspension, the Yankees are now off the hook for the $25 million owed to the 38-year old Rodriguez in 2014. With this significant chunk of change off the books, Yankees management now has more flexibility to make important acquisitions, namely pitching (ahem, Masahiro Tanaka?). The team will still owe A-Rod $61 million for the years 2015-2017; but taking, what is essentially the entire Houston Astros' payroll, off the books, drastically improves the Yankees' short-term cash situation, and reduces their Luxury Tax liability. |
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