After missing last season due to suspension, Alex Rodriguez is back and came into Thursday’s game just one home run shy of the total he hit in 2013. In the third inning, against the Orioles, Rodriguez hit his seventh home run of the season and No. 661 for his career to pass Willie Mays for fourth in MLB history.
Now, only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth are ahead of Rodriguez on one of baseball’s most hallowed lists.
Rodriguez was to receive a $6 million bonus for reaching 660 home runs, which he did last week. However, the team has indicated they have no intention of paying him the amount that is outlined in his contract on the basis that the Yankees can determine if the milestone home runs that trigger the bonuses are marketable.
Given the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Rodriguez along the way, it’s understandable the Yankees would feel they tainted his career home run total, making it something they can’t celebrate or market. Rodriguez would be able to challenge the decision if the Yankees decided to go that route.
