A-Rod’s not sitting out of spotlight

Alex Rodriguez’s dead bat has not served as a cloud blotting out the media spotlight that follows him.

The cameras, in this case operated by the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network, still focus on A-Rod’s facial expressions as he sits in the dugout knowing he is not going to play. Knowing that he’s basically being reduced to an extremely high paid fan who gets to wear a Yankee uniform.

As YES voices caption the close-ups, discussing how his DH role has become severely reduced, Rodriguez first flashes a brooding stare. Then a half-smile. And finally a quizzical look.

We’ll leave it to mind readers, and other all-knowing ones with their incredible insights, to guess what’s on Rodriguez’s mind in these exact moments. For public consumption, A-Rod has struck an analytical pose, sounding exactly like a TV baseball analyst discussing some other fading slugger’s slump.

If Rodriguez is abnormally frustrated over his disastrous 4-for-31 July, or extremely angry over Joe Girardi’s decision not to DH him against Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel Monday night, he is not showing it. A-Rod has not come close to expressing those feelings. He has not gone negative. He continues preaching team first (“we’re all about winning”) and travels the high road.

Judging by what is written and said, this has further endeared Rodriguez to the media covering the Yankees. They watched him stun the baseball world last season with the kind of offensive production, coming off a year-long suspension, no one expected.

He shared his feelings — as much as he is ever does — with his interrogators. And now, as he struggles badly at the plate, looking every year of 41 while seeing the final curtain slowly closing, Boss scribes have kept their hammers in cold storage giving Rodriguez the benefit of the doubt.

Even his former media nemeses are showing support. Like Michael Kay, YES’ playby-play voice and ESPN-98.7 Gasbag. Kay referred to “they” (aka Joe Girardi) “giving you cockamamie excuses” as to why A-Rod was not the designated hitter Monday night against Keuchel.

Attention: Until further notice, we officially declare A-Rod a sympathetic figure with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Or as sympathetic a figure as a guy can be with a $275 million contract and $42 million still left to collect.

This all will be accompanied by great mystery. Once the current featured story in the Bronx (Will the Yankees wave the white flag and break up the band?) sorts itself out, ARod’s future with the team becomes even more of a focus. If Hal Steinbrenner decides to pull the plug on the Yankees’ season, the story of A-Rod’s future will get more attention, especially if his bat doesn’t heat up.

Mark Feinsand, Daily News Yankees scribe, recently reported “a source” saying there’s “almost no chance” the Yankees will release Rodriguez this season. Even without a departure date set in stone, there already has been media speculation about A-Rod’s next gig.

Is the scenario accelerated if the Yankees happen to continue winning, go on a run, and A-Rod is still sitting because he can’t generate any offense? At that point, it stands to reason the Bombers could put his roster spot to better use, right? This situation could create a real dilemma for the Yankees and A-Rod.

Could Bombers brass and A-Rod negotiate some kind of buyout deal that would include him going to work in the YES booth? There is no doubt, at least initially, his presence would draw curious eyeballs to the telecasts. The Yankees already have some history when it comes to situations like this, albeit many moons ago under a far different regime.

The team released Phil Rizzuto in August 1956. They hired the Scooter as a broadcaster in 1957 launching a career that lasted nearly four decades. Rizzuto stayed in the Bombers booth until he retired after the 1996 season.

Rodriguez is not going to fade away, especially if the team is toast and September is just a month to look ahead and market the 2017 team while hyping sales of season ticket subscriptions. Under those circumstances, the story of A-Rod’s Yankees future, or lack thereof, may be the only thing keeping the Bombers relevant as they play out the string.

On the flip side, if the Yankees are still in playoff (even for the one game Wild Card extravaganza) contention, A-Rod’s performance and circumstance (Will he still be glued to the bench?) won’t be ignored.

Those cameras will find him. So will the spotlight.

Some things never change.