The Yankees are not only "declining to celebrate" 3B Alex Rodriguez’ impending 660th home run, which would tie Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time list, but also are "all but ignoring it," according to a front-page piece by Billy Witz of the N.Y. TIMES. It is "widely understood" in MLB that the Yankees are "tiptoeing around a potential legal showdown with Rodriguez over a series of $6 million bonuses they do not want to pay him because of his use of performance-enhancing drugs." The 10-year, $275M deal Rodriguez signed with the Yankees in '07 included $30M in bonuses "tied to his pursuit of the career home run record." It called for him to receive $6M "each time he tied one of the top four -- Mays, Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) -- and an additional $6M "for passing Bonds." In exchange for the bonuses, the Yankees "have all rights to marketing that is tied to the milestones." Rodriguez enters today's game against the Tigers with 658 career homers (N.Y. TIMES, 4/23). In N.Y., Davidoff & Sherman cite sources as saying that once Rodriguez hits No. 660, the Yankees "will have a precise period of time ... to declare this as a marketable milestone." One source said that the team has "two weeks" to make the declaration. Davidoff & Sherman note should that happen, Rodriguez would "sign over the rights to his image and associated branding" for $6M. However, the Yankees "have no intention of making such a declaration," claiming that Rodriguez' admitted PED use "renders his accomplishments unmarketable." Once the team formalizes its decision, a source said that Rodriguez has 30 days "to file a grievance." All indications are that he "will challenge the Yankees' interpretation of the side deal" (N.Y. POST, 4/23).
A DAY AT THE PARK: Last night’s edition of NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” featured host Seth Meyers visiting an empty Yankee Stadium and noting, “It’s April in New York City, it’s (EXPLETIVE) freezing, which means it’s time for some baseball.” Meyers spoke with the team’s bat boy, who he “berated” as the cause of his fictional poor at-bat. Meyers also made announcements over the P.A. system, spoke with the clubhouse attendant, stadium organist and beer vendor. He noted there are "so many iconic details here at Yankee Stadium," including the front-row seats behind home plate that “SNL” Exec Producer Lorne Michaels “texts from” ("Late Night with Seth Meyers," NBC, 4/22).
