The Yankees have benched Alex Rodriguez for lack of performance on the field, but some of his off the field actions have become a distraction. Often in an organization, if someone becomes such a distraction, the company has no choice but to get rid of the person at all costs. Rumors are rampant that A-Rod may be traded and the Yankees may have to absorb a great deal of his salary.
This reminds me very much of what happened to Mariah Carey back with Island Records – see a synopsis below from Wikipedia
“Carey left Columbia in 2000, and signed a record-breaking $100 million recording contract with Virgin Records. Carey ventured into film with Glitter (2001). Before the film’s release she suffered a physical and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for severe exhaustion. Following the film’s poor reception, she was bought out of her recording contract for $50 million, which led to a decline in her career. She signed a multi-million dollar contract deal with Island Records in 2002, and after an unsuccessful period, returned to the top of music charts with The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). “
If the Yankees follow suit, they may end up buying out of a contract and see him succeed elsewhere, but it has become clear that he probably doesn’t belong as a fit with the Yankee culture any longer.
Time will tell, but I do feel that A-Rod will get the Mariah Carey treatment and be bought out of his remaining time with the team in the form of a trade and payment of the portion of his contract to whatever suitor will take him.
