No Question: A-Rod Is Here to Stay

Happy Thursday fanatics!! It's been really "down" here at Bomber Boulevard this season, but I promise that things will get going as the Hot Stove heats up. The Yankees have a lot of big decisions to make this offseason, so there will be plenty of news to bring you as the coming months moves along.

So I'll start here. Most of us have already resigned ourselves to the fact that Alex Rodriguez will be back in pinstripes. But for those of you that are still holding out hope that the organization will somehow find a way to force A-Rod out of his iron-clad, no-trade clause, below is an article from Fox Sports that will hopefully quell all the doubt. No better place in my opinion to get Yankees news than straight from the horse's mouth; that mouth being of Brian Cashman. Get it through your heads A-Rod haters and lovers alike: he's not going anywhere! Enjoy.

Cashman: Yanks won't trade A-Rod

John Paul Morosi

Updated Nov 8, 2012 7:59 AM ET

  

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.

For all those excitedly anticipating a winter of Alex Rodriguez trade rumors, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is here to disappoint you.

 

“We’re not trading Alex,” Cashman insisted Wednesday on the first day of the general managers meetings. “So, hopefully the Alex stuff has stopped.

 

“I’m reiterating: We’re not trading Alex Rodriguez. He’s got a full no-trade (clause). I have talked to every team in baseball. I have not offered Alex in any trade. You’ll be able to confirm that with everybody if you want.”

 

As Rodriguez was benched during the Yankees’ disappointing turn in the American League playoffs, speculation swirled that his hometown Miami Marlins, or perhaps the Los Angeles Angels, could make a play to acquire A-Rod during the offseason. With five years and $114 million left on Rodriguez’s contract, the Yankees would need to eat a substantial amount of money in order to trade him.

 

Cashman said no team even inquired about Rodriguez’s availability Wednesday as the industry gathered at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa.

 

“They probably read my comments that we’re not trading him,” Cashman said.

 

Rodriguez is coming off his worst season since establishing himself in the majors with the Seattle Mariners in 1996, hitting .272 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI while showing a persistent vulnerability to right-handed pitching. Yet, it appears A-Rod will retain his spot in the Yankees’ lineup. The 37-year-old may spend more time at designated hitter than third base during the coming season.

 

Despite the perpetual tumult surrounding him, A-Rod told reporters late in the season that he loves being a Yankee. Cashman said he spoke with Rodriguez on the phone after the Yankees’ season ended, but declined to offer specifics of their conversation. “I’m going to leave that in the past and move forward,” the GM said.

 

Follow Rasheeda Cooper on twitter: @ra_cooper