Report: A-Rod believes Chase Headley has to win starting third base job from him

Alex Rodriguez has not played professional baseball since being suspended by MLB in 2013 for his role in the Biogenesis scandal, but he is not letting any potential rustiness deter him. In fact, he still believes he will be an integral part of the Yankees this season.

According to Newsday, A-Rod feels that he will be the team’s starting third baseman this year despite the presence of Chase Headley, whom the team re-signed with a 4-year, $52 million contract over the offseason.

“Alex’s mind is that job’s not Headley’s, it’s Alex’s to lose,” a source told Newsday. “That’s what he thinks. Alex is going into training camp thinking that he is the starting third baseman, that if there’s a competition, Headley’s got to win it from him. It doesn’t matter about the money, what they signed Headley for. This guy [Rodriguez] can play.”

As annoyed as people may be with A-Rod because of his involvement in so many scandals, you have to at least respect his attitude. Rodriguez is set to make $21 million this season and wants to contribute. He wants to prove he can still play. And it seems like he wants to earn the $61 million remaining on his contract.

GM Brian Cashman may be tired of dealing with Rodriguez’s non-stop drama, but maybe he’ll be pleasantly surprised by the former MVP. Newsday says A-Rod has been training seven days a week and plans to report early to spring training.

A-Rod won’t be the team’s starting third baseman — that’s going to be Headley’s job — but at least the Yankees will be getting a dedicated DH.