Alex Rodriguez has hip tear, could miss half of 2013

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to undergo left hip surgery in January that could sideline him for the first half of the season, the club announced on Monday.

Rodriguez will undergo surgery for a torn labrum, bone impingement and the correction of a cyst, the club announced. Recovery time is expected to be four to six months.

Rodriguez had a similar, but not identical, surgery to repair his right hip in March 2009. This injury was discovered during Rodriguez's annual November evaluation with Marc Philippon, the orthopedist who performed his right hip surgery.

Rodriguez, who injured the left hip before the playoffs, had been trying to rehab the hip since the season's conclusion. Yet, after weeks of trying to see if he can play without surgery, a procedure was recommended by orthopedist Bryan Kelly, who will perform this surgery.

Rodriguez, who injured the hip in September, had been on painkillers throughout the postseason, a person close to Rodriguez told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Yankees are scheduled to discuss Rodriguez's injury Monday afternoon.

Kelly is co-director of the Center for Hip Preservation at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery.

Rodriguez badly struggled during the postseason, striking out 12 times in 25 at-bats, hitting .120. He also endured the worst season of his career, hitting .272 with 18 homers and 57 RBI.

The Yankees, who already are looking for a right fielder and catcher, now need a replacement for Rodriguez and are expected to re-sign Eric Chavez. They also will be opening the season with shortstop Derek Jeter recovering from a fractured ankle.

Rodriguez, the highest-paid player in baseball history with a 10-year, $275 million contract, has no plans to retire despite the continued health risk of playing with his surgically-repaired hip at the age of 37. He has five years and $113 million left on his contract, and also said that he will not accept a trade to any other team.