Alex Rodriguez is due back in the Yankees' lineup tonight, but not before MLB lowers the boom for... [+]
Major League Baseball is expected to hand down a historic number of suspensions today in connection to its investigation of performance enhancing drugs supplied to players by the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in South Florida. The first domino fell last month when MLB suspended 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun for 65 games for his involvement with the clinic and its founder Anthony Bosch.
The biggest scalp on today’s docket is three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez, who has yet to appear in a game for the New York Yankees this year as he recovers from hip surgery. A-Rod is expected to appeal his suspension and be able to play pending arbitration. In a bit of bizarre timing, he is expected to make his season debut in the Yankees’ lineup tonight in Chicago.
Baseball is a game that is built on numbers and statistics. Baseball’s records are cherished more than in other major sports. Of course, many of those records are tainted by the steroid inflated numbers put up during the past 20 years. With that in mind, here is a look at some of the numbers that define the legacy of A-Rod.
1 Was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1993.
2 Gold Glove awards.
3 Uniform number his entire career before joining the Yankees. No. 3 is retired by the Yankees in honor of Babe Ruth, so Rodriguez choose No. 13.
14 All-Star game selections.
18 Rank on Forbes’ 2013 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with earnings of $30.3 million from salary and endorsements.
38 Turned 38 years old on July 27.
57 Career high in home runs hit in 2002 with Texas. A-Rod admitted in 2009 that he used PEDs while playing for Texas.
75 Hit .263 with 13 home runs in 75 postseason games.
660 Willie Mays’ home run total that would trigger the first of a series of five $6 million bonuses if A-Rod can reach them. He currently has 647 dingers which ranks fifth all-time.
1950 Career RBI total—seventh all time.
2901 Career hit total—37th all-time.
$1 million Signing bonus from Mariners after being drafted.
$1 million Peak estimated annual value of his Nike endorsement deal including bonuses. Nike and Rawlings have dropped A-Rod as a sponsor in recent years.
$3.9 million Donation to the University of Miami to renovate the school’s baseball stadium and name the field after him. A-Rod signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Miami before signing with the Mariners.
$15 million Profit A-Rod made on the $30 million sale of his Miami home in May.
$25 million 2014 salary.
$34 million Amount in salary A-Rod would lose with a suspension through the end of the 2014 season.
$86 million Salary owed on last four years of his contract, plus $3 million owed January 2014 as last installment of signing bonus from 2007 Yankee contract.
$252 million Value of his landmark 10-year free agent contract he signed with the Texas Rangers after the 2000 season.
$275 million Value of his current 10-year Yankees contract, excluding $30 million marketing agreement tied to home run thresholds.
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