After last week’s initial report, there was some speculation that Alex Rodriguez would be able to forgo surgery on his hip for a cyst discovered last month.
Now, however, the Yankees have made it official:
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. The Yankees slugger will need further surgery after the season.
The diagnosis by Dr. Marc Philippon on Sunday was yet another jolt to Rodriguez during a tumultuous month in which the three-time AL MVP admitted using steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas.
The decision eliminates the discussed option of Rodriguez treating the injury with rest and rehab and playing through the season without surgery.
Philippon spoke from Vail, Colo., on a conference call with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Philippon, a noted hip specialist, will perform the procedure.
Rodriguez has a torn labrum and a cyst in his right hip. The cyst was drained Wednesday, and he had additional tests Friday to test the hip’s strength and flexibility. His hip had been fine until he experienced stiffness during spring training this year.
Rodriguez is in the second season of a record $275 million, 10-year contract. Now, New York must try replace its third baseman and cleanup hitter, placing further responsibility on new first baseman Mark Teixeira.
The leading candidate from the organization to take over at third base would be Cody Ransom, a 33-year-old who has a .251 average and 24 RBIs in 183 at-bats in six major league seasons.
Ransom won’t replace A-Rod at the plate, but hopefully he’ll contribute enough to make a difference.
