Report: Yankees believe they can avoid paying Alex Rodriguez bonuses

The New York Yankees reportedly believe they have a "strong chance" at not being required to pay Alex Rodriguez the milestone bonuses contained in his marketing agreement with the team.

SI Wire | Feb 25, 2015

Report: Yankees believe they can avoid paying Alex Rodriguez bonuses /

The New York Yankees believe they have a "strong chance" of not being required to pay Alex Rodriguez the milestone bonuses contained in his marketing agreement with the team, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

The agreement includes five $6 million payments Rodriguez would be owed for historic achievements as part of a deal negotiated at the time of the 10-year, $275 million contract extension he signed in November 2007.

The first achievement that triggers a bonus is his 660th career home run, which would tie him with Willie Mays for fourth alltime. Rodriguez will enter the 2015 season with 654 home runs.

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Heyman reports that the team has "every intention" of putting Rodriguez on trial and under oath if it needs to in a potential grievance hearing. The Yankees believe the wording in the marketing agreement that says they must "designate" the home runs as milestones helps their case, and that Rodriguez's performance-enhancing drug use should void the payments.

Rodriguez could file a grievance if the Yankees do not designate the achievements as milestones, which Heyman reports is "where things could really get contentious."

New York still owes Rodriguez $61 million over the next three seasons. On Monday, he reported early to spring training and began working out.

- Molly Geary

Published Feb 25, 2015

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