The New York Yankees are reportedly planning to block the impending bonuses of Alex Rodriguez, including the one related to his number of career home runs, multiple reports confirmed.
Rodriguez, who will be returning to the Yankees after serving a one-season ban due to his involvement in the Biogenesis controversy, will reportedly get $6 million bonus if he scores six more home runs next season.
The 39-year-old has racked up 654 home runs and is just six homers away from tying Willie Mays for fourth all-time in total number of homers.
Tying Mays' record will give Rodriguez $6 million bonus and will get additional $6 million apiece when he ties Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762). He could earn another $6 million if he surpasses Bond's record, which means that he could get a total of $30 million bonus before he retires.
According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN, the Yankees are looking for legal arguments they will use in contesting the $30-million milestone bonus stated in Rodriguez's 10-year, $275 million deal with the Yankees.
Sources said that the Yankees are planning to question the validity of such deal after Rodriguez admitted that he used illegal substances before.
"The Yankees likely would argue that Rodriguez basically voided the marketing agreement by making it worthless because of his PED use and the way he has acted," Marchand wrote. "The deal calls for Rodriguez to receive the flat $6 million fee in return for the Yankees' gaining exclusive rights to market the milestone achievements."
Should the Yankees decide to contest the bonus clause, Rodriguez will be given the chance to file a grievance, which could lead to another ugly standoff between the veteran third baseman and the Yankees.
The New York Post also reported that the Major League Baseball Players Association will support Rodriguez, who sued the union a year ago.
A source told that while Rodriguez and MLBPA had troubles before, the players union will back him up. According to the source, the Yankees could be charged with breach of contract, and added that Rodriguez has already been punished for his actions before and additional penalties will lead to violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
