Alex Rodriguez Says Sorry

In a hour and a half meeting at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Alex Rodriguez apologized to New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and team executives for his suspension for performance-enhancing drug use and the inappropriate behavior he exhibited in attempt to defend himself. 

A joint statement was issued on behalf of four key Yankees executives as well as Rodriguez and his legal counsel.

Image Credit: hellogiggles.com

"Today we held a meeting at Yankee Stadium between Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, Brian Cashman, Jean Afterman, Alex Rodriguez and (legal counsel) Jim Sharp," the statement read. "Alex initiated the meeting and apologized to the organization for his actions over the past several years."

A-Rod was suspended without pay for the entire 2014 season for his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The suspension was ultimately reduced to 162 games, or the length of a complete baseball season.

A-Rod was then was out of the spotlight. He appeared at a couple of sporting events and took to social media a couple of times, but he remained quiet. Rodriguez dropped his lawsuits against the players' union and the Yankees' medical staff. He stopped giving obnoxious interviews proclaiming his innocence in the wake of a massive investigation that found him guilty of using performance enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.

Yankees pitchers and catchers must report for spring training in Tampa on Feb. 20, and position players such as Rodriguez have a reporting date of Feb. 26. The Yankees reportedly told the 20-year veteran to schedule a press conference before then, in order to clear the air as much as possible before re-joining the team.

The Yankees owe Rodriguez $61 million over the next three seasons, not counting the potential home run bonus money. They signed Chase Headley for four years and $52 million to play Rodriguez's position of third base. The general idea is that A-Rod will be the DH if he shows that he can still keep up with fastballs at 40 years old. 

Some of Rodriguez's teammates such as Ivan Nova and Dellin Betances have spoken out and showed their support for the fellow Yankee. If his teammates can support him, Yankees fans should be able to rally behind him, especially after a season with such an offensive struggle. A-Rod wants to prove himself and earn those home run bonuses. The Yankees organization should support him and keep the incentives on the table in order to boost the offense. 

"He's going to be there (in spring training)," Hal Steinbrenner said during last month's owners' meetings. "And if Alex is Alex, he'll show up in shape; he always does. There certainly are some unknowns for all of us, including him. His age. Two surgeries. We'll just have to see. He'll be there, but the situation is the situation. We just need to concentrate on keeping him healthy, and he needs to concentrate on staying healthy, and we'll go from there."

If A-Rod sees support from Yankees fans, teammates and the organization, that might be the motivation he needs to get back to his old ways.

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Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @ChristineeeeO