Report: Arbitration likely in Yankees fight over A-Rod milestone bonus

The Yankees and Alex Rodriguez's battle over milestone bonus reportedly headed for arbitration after the season.

The New York Yankees and designated hitter Alex Rodriguez’s fight over milestone bonuses should he reach certain home run barriers is likely headed to arbitration, reports the New York Post.

[daily_cut.mlb]

The Yankees are reportedly looking to void milestone bonuses in Rodriguez’s marketing contract and are prepared for a battle if Rodriguez files a grievance with the Major League Baseball Players Association.

According to the Post, a hearing to decide if Rodriguez will get a $6 million bonus for tying Willie Mays on the career home run list (660) will likely take place after the season. Rodriguez currently has 658 career home runs.

The marketing contract, negotiated in 2007, called for Rodriguez to get another $6 million if he ties Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs, $6 million if he ties Hank Aaron (755) and another $6 million if passes Barry Bonds (762) to become baseball's all-time home run leader.

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The Yankees don’t want to pay any of that money because Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for the entire 2014 season because of his ties to a now-defunct South Florida clinic that distributed PEDs to dozens of major league players.

A list of upcoming milestones for current Yankees players that was distributed in the press box to the media during New York's game in Detroit on Monday made no mention of Rodriguez's pursuit of the home run record.

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Once the Yankees decide not to pay Rodriguez after he passes Mays, he has 30 days to file a grievance, according to the report. 

Rodriguez has three years and $61 million remaining on his players contract with the Yankees. He is batting .264 with four home runs and 11 RBI this season.

- Scooby Axson

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