A-Rod calls Yank talent breathtaking
TAMPA — He’s back with the Bombers again, and A-Rod told his boss he hopes it stays that way forever.
“I mean, I would always want to come back,” A-Rod, now a special adviser to GM Brian Cashman, said on Monday night. “I told Hal (Steinbrenner) I would love to spend the rest of my life as a Yankee. I love it here, and again I’m grateful for what (Hal) did for me in 2014, giving me an opportunity to get back into baseball. I’m just happy to be back and see so much more talent. “It’s breathtaking.”
Monday marked No. 13’s first day at camp. He will call Thursday’s YankeesTwins game in Fort Myers as part of his new color analyst gig with ESPN.
Asked about a potential conflict of interest given he’s being compensated both by the Bombers and the four-letter network, A-Rod responded: “They pay me at ESPN to tell (the viewers) the what and the why, and I plan on doing that objectively and fairly.”
A-Rod chatted with Aaron Boone behind the batting cage and also spoke with Giancarlo Stanton.
“I don’t know if I’m in a position to come in and give advice to anyone — especially after one day,” A-Rod said of Stanton. “He’s done great. He’s done great so far without my advice. But I think he’s going to be fun to watch, I’ll tell you that.”
Adding Stanton to a lineup that already includes Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Didi Gregorius has everyone wondering about its potential, A-Rod too.
“It has an opportunity to be record-breaking and put up numbers that we haven’t seen in a really long time,” A-Rod said. “I can’t remember a time seeing this type of lineup 1-9 in a really long time.”
A-Rod was part of a Yankee lineup that scored 915 runs in 2009, when they went on to win the World Series. There were great expectations at the time, as the team had just built a new stadium and bought CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett in free agency. It was win or bust — like the 2018 team. The pressure was immense.
“Totally different,” A-Rod said when asked to compare expectations. “In 2008 we missed the playoffs completely, and in 2009 we won the championship. Last year they were 27 outs away from going to the World Series and competing for a world championship. I think there are some similarities, but also some differences.”
Asked about his role, A-Rod replied: “Whatever Hal wants me to do. I had some great talks with Hal and Brian. They were brief, very quick, but the three of us have an incredible respect and passion for what this group has an opportunity to do.”