Yankees' Joe Girardi says Alex Rodriguez will be in lineup Monday if activated

Alex Rodriguez is expected to be eligible to play on Monday because his suspension will likely be up for appeal. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) As a potential

Alex Rodriguez is expected to be eligible to play on Monday because his suspension will likely be up for appeal. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

As a potential suspension through 2014 looms over Alex Rodriguez, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he will pencil the third baseman into the lineup if he is activated from the disabled list and available to play on Monday, according to CBSSports.com's Scott Miller.

Rodriguez, who is reportedly facing a 214-game suspension for his connection to the Biogenesis clinic, has been rehabbing in the minor leagues for more than two weeks while on the disabled list -- first for his recovery from hip surgery and then for a quad strain.

Girardi told reporters in San Diego that he exchanged texts with Rodriguez after his rehab game for the Double-A Trenton Thunder on Saturday night.

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The Yankees begin a three-game series against the White Sox in Chicago on Monday, and believe that Rodriguez will be available because the suspension will be up for appeal, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/364117051545104384

From CBSSports.com:

“I think all of us are curious as to what's going to happen,” Girardi said. “Is Alex going to be a player for us tomorrow, what's going to happen with the other guys.

“In my mind, I have him penciled in tomorrow.”

...

“I know he's anxious to get there,” Girardi said, referring to Chicago.

He also said that he does not think the clubhouse atmosphere will turn awkward if Rodriguez suddenly is pulling on a Yankees uniform roughly 24 hours from now.

“I don't suspect it will be awkward,” Girardi said. “The guys know him as a teammate. They've been around Alex, laughed with him.

“I suspect it will be business as usual. There will be more media, but that's for Alex, not for the rest of the team.”