In theory, Alex Rodriguez should probably be pretty mad right now. An arbitrator just ruled that, while A-Rod will not have to serve the original 211-game suspension that MLB handed to him last summer because of his ties to Biogenesis and Tony Bosch, he will have to serve a 162-game suspension. And that means that he won't play baseball in 2014.
However, the media spoke with A-Rod a little while ago at a promotional event in Mexico City and, to tell you the truth, he sounded sort of relieved when he was asked about the 162-game ban. We're sure he's not thrilled about losing out on all the money he would have earned this year. But according to him, he's going to use 2014 to "rest mentally and physically."
"I think that in the year 2014, the league could have done me a favor because I've played 20 years without a timeout," he said. "I think 2014 will be a year to rest mentally and physically prepare myself for the future and begin a new chapter in my life."
That doesn't mean that A-Rod isn't going to try to come back this year. He's still going to take his case to federal court and try to get his ban overturned again. But assuming the ban stands, he's going to use the next year to prepare for the 2015 MLB season.
"I have three years left on my contract starting in 2015," he said, "and I hope to play very well and finish my career in New York."
Something tells us that this is not going to be the last time we hear from A-Rod in 2014, though. See you in court, Alex?
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[via ESPN New York]
