Yankees manager on A-Rod: 'Our relationship is good'

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is going to bat for Alex Rodriguez once again. 

With the slugger's return approaching from a season-long suspension, Girardi is expecting the same media circus this season that has surrounded Rodriguez throughout his career - though he doesn't appear overly concerned. 

"When hasn't there been a lot of attention around Alex when he's been in our clubhouse?" Girardi told Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News. "It's gonna be a lot that we've dealt with and there will probably be some new things that maybe we've never seen before, but we'll deal with them and we'll get through it."

Girardi and Rodriguez have remained in contact throughout the 14-time All-Star's suspension. However, the manager acknowledged that they have not discussed the Yankees attempt to avoid paying Rodriguez his marketing bonuses, should he meet certain milestones this season.

"I've never talked to him about that in our dealings," Girardi said. "Alex and I have kept in touch through all of this, so our relationship is good. My job is to get him ready."

Girardi has endeared himself as a player's manager and has a track record of sticking up for Rodriguez. In 2013, he rushed to the aid of his slugger, who was playing while appealing his suspension, after he was intentionally thrown at twice by Boston Red Sox right-hander Ryan Dempster. 

The Yankees signed Chase Headley to a four-year deal this offseason due to concerns over Rodriguez's ability to hold up a third base following a long layoff. The plan is to take a wait and see approach with the 39-year-old to see how his body holds up, before making any concrete decisions on where to play him.

"We're gonna DH him, we're gonna play him at third base and see where he's at there, and we'll talk about maybe playing him at first base a little bit," Girardi said.