GIRARDI: A-ROD WILL DECIDE IF SURGERY OPTION
TAMPA, Fla. — While the Yankees would prefer that Alex Rodriguez plays with a hip injury, manager Joe Girardi said surgery before opening day remains an option for the third baseman.
“Ultimately it comes down to Alex. What he feels is best — get the information, talk about it as an organization,” Girardi said Friday. “Talk about it with Alex, and ultimately he has to make the decision. It’s a tough decision no matter what.”
Rodriguez had additional tests on his injured right hip in Vail on Friday, according to team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner. The tests were designed to determine strength and flexibility now that a cyst in the hip has been drained.
A day earlier, general manager Brian Cashman said Rodriguez will attempt to play with a torn labrum and avoid surgery and a four-month rehabilitation period. The cyst was drained Wednesday.
Cashman said he’s pretty confident that surgery will eventually be needed.
“The question is when,” Cashman said.
Cody Ransom is the top internal candidate to replace Rodriguez at third base.
Footnotes.
Outfielder Garret Anderson was kept out of Atlanta’s Grapefruit League game against the Astros after pulling his right calf muscle minutes before the first pitch.
• Mark Sweeney, whose 175 pinch hits rank second to Lenny Harris’ 212 in major-league history, announced his retirement and joined manager Joe Torre’s coaching staff with the Dodgers.
• Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer will rest his sore elbow until next week after a second medical opinion confirmed swelling in the area. The Associated Press
