Joe Girardi just told reporters that Alex Rodriguez will not be in camp with the Yankees this spring. He just got off crutches and will continue rehabbing from his left hip surgery in New York. The skipper did not say whether plans could change later in camp. “This club is used to having what people might call distractions,” said Girardi. “There really isn’t a lot to talk about … My concern is to get him healthy.”
It does seem pretty obvious that keeping A-Rod in New York is as much about avoiding a potential distraction following the latest round of performance-enhancing drug allegations as it is continuing his rehab. The hip injury gives them an easy cover. Either way, no A-Rod in camp means that much time will be spent discussing baseball. Hooray for that.