The dispute between Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees over the $6 million bonus for tying Willie Mays on MLB’s all-time home run list has been settled.
Following Rodriguez’s PED scandal, the Yankees felt they weren’t obligated to pay the bonus. There was no longer any achievement or milestone to celebrate and promote since A-Rod’s achievements are now disgraced. However, Rodriguez insisted he was contractually entitled to the bonus since he tied Mays with 660 homers. This was likely going to result in an ugly battle after the season.
Instead, A-Rod and the Yanks reached a compromise that makes both sides look pretty good, agreeing to donate $3.5 million to charity.
MLB-MLBPA statement on @Yankees and Alex Rodriguez: pic.twitter.com/abuJGgqx51
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 3, 2015
Originally, Rodriguez and the Yankees had an agreement to pay $6 million bonuses upon reaching various milestones, presumably on the way to ultimately breaking baseball’s record for most career home runs. After tying Mays with 660 homers, next up was Babe Ruth’s 714, followed by Hank Aaron at 755, Barry Bonds with 762 and of course, reaching the top of the list. The Yankees would then promote the accomplishments and essentially recoup that money through marketing.
But as we now know, after being suspended for the entire 2014 season for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal and diminishing skills, A-Rod won’t be reaching Ruth, Aaron and Bonds on the all-time list. That increased his urgency to get the bonus for tying Mays, since those other bonuses won’t be coming. With the matter settled, one major distraction that lingered over the Yankees as they battle for first place in the AL East and a potential wild-card playoff bid is eliminated.
The organizations that will benefit from the donation are the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa, and Pitch In For Baseball, while $2.5 million goes to the MLB Urban Youth Foundation.
