TAMPA — On his way back into the Yankees universe, Alex Rodriguez said all the right things to make sure his return wasn’t sabotaged by a wrong sentence.
Yet the Yankees don’t trade in words when it comes to the disgraced slugger who was suspended for the 2014 season due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
The only thing the Yankees care about Rodriguez is this: Can he help them win?
It’s a question Brian Cashman said he won’t know the answer to until the final two weeks of March. Until then, the general manager explained, trying to evaluate Rodriguez would be as useless as Rodriguez was to the Yankees last season.
“The last two weeks of spring training,’’ Cashman said when asked when the Yankees would know what they have in a 39-year-old slugger with two surgically repaired hips, 44 games played in the past two seasons and returning from a season-long suspension. “Let him knock the rust off and let him get his feet back on the ground. In terms of trying to make judgments on what he will be, in fairness to him, [that] will take place in the last two weeks of camp.’’
Rodriguez, who faced pitching machines and former teammate Freddy Garcia in Miami while suspended, took 35 swings in batting practice against Danilo Valiente’s 55 mph offerings and drove three out of George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Some of the hacks produced sizzling liners; others led to lazy fly balls.
“It was fun, I am excited to be back,’’ said Rodriguez, who received slight applause from a small gathering when he stepped into the batting cage. “I feel like a rookie all over again.’’
Prior to BP, Rodriguez took ground balls at third base with Jonathan Galvez. Afterward Rodriguez signed autographs along the first-base line.
Following a weight-lifting session, Rodriguez spoke with the media about a variety of subjects. While Cashman points to Rodriguez having three years and $61 million remaining on a contract and that he is on the team, Rodriguez mentioned several times he needs to make the squad.
Laying in Rodriguez’s locker was a first baseman’s glove that needed work to soften it up.
“It’s brand new, just got it [Thursday],’’ Rodriguez said of the mitt used for a position where he has never even practiced.
Rodriguez won’t work at first Friday, but said he would go to a back field with Mark Teixeira “one of these days’’ and work around first base.
So when will Rodriguez begin to evaluate himself?
“I wish it was as easy as hitting Danilo’s 55 mph fastball. We all look like an All-Star at that point,’’ Rodriguez said. “Let’s see what happens when we have a guy throwing 95 mph.’’
Rodriguez admitted to feeling nervous on the field and anticipates the same emotion for the first exhibition game and again if he makes it to Opening Day.
“It’s the process, I have been through a lot the last two years,’’ said Rodriguez, who put himself in the position he was in. “That is on me, I have no one to blame but myself.’’
Rodriguez said he hadn’t allowed his mind to dance with what Thursday was going to feel like, yet afterward he gushed about being part of a big league workout.
“It was pretty awesome. Sometimes you can take for granted being a major league baseball player, just going out there and catching ground balls, catching ground balls on my knees. That’s the stuff I was doing when I was 10 years old,’’ Rodriguez said. “Hopefully I get the opportunity to finish my career and appreciate the gift.’’
That career might already be over if his body quits. Or it could continue and possibly allow him to pass Willie Mays (660) on the all-time home run list.
As always, time will tell. And the time to tell is about three weeks away.