Report: Yankees declined A-Rod's offer to meet, apologize
The New York Yankees continue to distance themselves from Alex Rodriguez, even if their efforts are simply delaying the inevitable.
Rodriguez has reportedly been denied a chance to meet with the club and apologize face-to-face for his role in the Biogenesis scandal before players report to camp next month, according to the New York Daily News.
"We'll see you in spring training," the Yankees reportedly told the embattled slugger.
Rodriguez has already attempted to smooth things over with new commissioner Rob Manfred after serving a 162-game suspension. The three-time MVP reportedly met Manfred last week at Major League Baseball headquarters in New York.
Though the exact nature of their discussion is unclear, the Daily News reports Manfred told Rodriguez, "You're done here. You're a Yankee and you have to work things out now with them."
Apparently, the team isn't ready to just yet.
Sources told the Daily News that the collateral damage caused by Rodriguez and the Biogenesis scandal may be irreparable. From court room battles to public relation warfare, Rodriguez has several fences to mend prior to his re-entry into baseball.
From the Daily News:
Relations between Rodriguez, MLB and the Yankees became so heated in late 2013 and early 2014 that baseball executives and team officials hired extra security for protection, going so far as to have their homes and offices swept for bugging devices and employing bodyguards to accompany them, according to sources.
Behind the scenes, Rodriguez has reportedly remained steadfast in his desire to reclaim the Yankees' starting third base job, despite the re-signing of Chase Headley.
The 39-year-old slugger is said to be working out as many as seven days a week and seeking hitting tips from Barry Bonds. One source told the Daily News that Rodriguez is noticeably thinner and appearing "massless" compared to previous years.
Rodriguez, who is owed $61 million over the next three years, hasn't appeared in a major league game in over 16 months. Despite the inaction, several milestones loom upon Rodriguez's anticipated return to baseball.
He needs just 61 hits to become the 29th player to collect 3,000 career hits, and is seven home runs away from passing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. Rodriguez can also become the third player in MLB history to reach 2,000 RBIs by driving in 31 more runs.