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Alex Rodriguez once again struggled down the stretch and in the postseason for the New York Yankees in 2012. Though the media and fans alike were quick to throw Rodriguez under the bus, his offensive futility was due in part to an injured hip that required surgery.

Since going under the knife, A-Rod has been working toward a return in 2013.

UPDATE: Saturday, Aug. 10, at 5:25 p.m. ET

ESPN's Wallace Matthews reports the Yankees' plans to fine A-Rod may be detailed in a letter to the slugger from Brian Cashman:

According to sources familiar with the letter's content, the club reprimanded Rodriguez for his recent actions surrounding his rehab assignment. Two sources who have seen the letter, said part of it reads: "the club contemplates discipline for your most recent violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement." Although no specific punishment is mentioned; the $153,846 is equivalent to one day's pay under Rodriguez's contract, which calls for him to earn $28 million for 2013.

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UPDATE: Saturday, Aug. 10, at 10:50 a.m. ET

From Josh Vitale of MLB.com:

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UPDATE: Saturday, Aug. 10, at 1:42 a.m.

As if A-Rod's situation wasn't sticky enough, ESPN's Andrew Marchand reports the Yankees' intent to discipline the slugger for seeking a second opinion on his quad injury:

Rodriguez and the Yankees fought publicly late in July over the health of his quad. Without officially informing the team, Rodriguez had orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Gross of Hackensack University Medical Center examine his MRI. Dr. Gross then did a media tour. Sources indicated then that the Yankees likely would discipline A-Rod, but didn't inform him until right before his 2013 home debut Friday night. The letter did not specify the exact nature of the discipline, a source said.

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UPDATE: Monday, August 5, at 4:45 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Via the New York Yankees on Twitter:

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UPDATE: Sunday, August 4, at 4:45 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

From Scott Miller of CBSSports.com:

“Yeah,” (Joe) Girardi said. “I'm not going to bring him up and sit him.” Most of the questions were about the swirling controversy surrounding the embattled star as the Yankees prepared for their series finale in San Diego. “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.”

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UPDATE: Sunday, August 4, at 2:15 p.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

From Bryan Hoch of MLB.com and Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger:

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UPDATE: Friday, August 2, at 9:33 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

From The Record's Andrew Gross:

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UPDATE: Friday, August 2, at 10:20 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo



Sweeny Murti of Sportsradio 66 WFAN reports that Rodriguez's MLB return could come Monday:

From Peter Botte of the New York Daily News:

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UPDATE: Friday, August 2, at 8:35 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

CBS' Danny Knobler has the latest:

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UPDATE: Friday, August 2, at 7:53 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

From CBS' Danny Knobler:

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UPDATE: Friday, August 2, at 5:45 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

From SportsCenter:

CBS' Mike Axisa adds:

Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin confirmed Rodriguez is scheduled for five innings or three at-bats on Friday. He will then play seven innings with the team on Saturday. If that goes well, he could join the big league team on Monday, when they're set to open a series in Chicago against the White Sox.

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UPDATE: Thursday, August 1, at 6:53 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

CBS' Danny Knobler has the latest on A-Rod:

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UPDATE: Thursday, August 1, at 4:48 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

New York Post reporter Joel Sherman has an update on A-Rod:

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 31, at 5:10 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

CBS Sports' Dayn Perry has an update on A-Rod's status:

Yankees GM Brian Cashman says rehabbing third baseman Alex Rodriguez will play in a simulated game on Thursday. Rodriguez, who's working his way back from offseason hip surgery, has been limited by a quad injury. This has been the plan ever since the Yankees opted not to activate A-Rod according to his preferred time-table. Rodriguez, you'll recall, received his own second opinion in an effort to persuade the team to reinstate him to the active roster, but the Yankees declined to do so.

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UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, at 6:10 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Star-Ledger reporter Andy McCullough reports the latest on A-Rod's deteriorating relationship with the Yankees:

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UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, at 5:37 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

CBS Sports reports the latest on A-Rod's situation:

When Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez obtained, without the team's permission, an outside second opinion on his injured quad muscle, GM Brian Cashman suggested that in doing so A-Rod had violated the collective bargaining agreement. Now, CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will fine Rodriguez an undisclosed amount as punishment.

Cashman's official statement was also provided:

"I heard via a text message this afternoon from Alex Rodriguez that he had retained a doctor to review his medical situation. In media reports, we have since learned that the doctor in question has acknowledged that he did not examine Mr. Rodriguez and that he was not retained to do a comprehensive medical examination of Mr. Rodriguez. Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain."

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UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, at 3:27 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News has an update from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Alex Rodriguez's status.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com also had an update on Rodriguez's mindset as it pertains to the club's timetable to return him to the lineup.

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UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, at 1:17 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Alex Rodriguez has issued a statement after the latest controversy about his health (via Sweeny Murti of WFAN).

I think the Yanks and I crossed signals. I don't want any more mix ups. I'm excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and I'm ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, let's play.

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UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, at 7:20 a.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

The New York Daily News' Teri Thompson, Bill Madden, Christian Red and Nathaniel Vinton have the latest on Alex Rodriguez's injury situation:

Rodriguez managed to open a new door for doping investigators Wednesday when he put forward a New Jersey doctor to contradict the Yankees’ diagnosis of his quad injury; the doctor, orthopedist Michael Gross of Hackensack University Medical Center, was reprimanded in February for "failing to adequately ensure proper patient treatment involving the prescribing of hormones including steroids." When notified by the Daily News of the reprimand Gross received from the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners — the reprimand was first reported by SNY—a league source said Major League Baseball’s investigation of Rodriguez in the Biogenesis case would expand. "This has caused MLB to now expand its investigation (of A-Rod) in regard to his relationship with this doctor and this wellness clinic," said the source. According to the reprimand letter, which stated that the New Jersey attorney general originally opened the matter, Gross started a clinic called Active Center for Health and Wellness, where he permitted an individual "who had completed medical school but did not have a medical license to participate in the care and treatment of the patients." During an interview on SNY’s 'Daily News Live' program, Gross was asked specifically about the reprimand and said, "It’s a closed matter." Gross called the Active Center for Health and Wellness a "separate practice."

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 24, at 7:47 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has issued a statement about the controversy surrounding Alex Rodriguez, via MLB.com:

I heard via a text message this afternoon from Alex Rodriguez that he had retained a doctor to review his medical situation. In media reports, we have since learned that the doctor in question has acknowledged that he did not examine Mr. Rodriguez and that he was not retained to do a comprehensive medical examination of Mr. Rodriguez. Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain. As you know, it is the Yankees' desire to have Alex return to the lineup as soon as possible. And we have done everything to try and accomplish this. As early as Friday, July 12, when I suggested to Alex that we move his rehab from Tampa to Triple-A Scranton (at Buffalo), Alex complained for the first time of "tightness" in his quad and therefore refused to consent to the transfer of his assignment. Again, last Sunday, Alex advised that he had stiffness in his quad and should not play on Sunday or Monday. We sent Alex to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI which evidenced a Grade 1 strain. As always, we will follow the rules and regulations set forth in the Basic Agreement, and will again re-evaluate Alex in Tampa tomorrow, as our goal is to return him to the lineup as soon as he is medically capable of doing so.

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 24, at 3:58 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

A report by ESPN's Wallace Matthews and Andrew Marchand outlines the discrepancy surrounding Alex Rodriguez's injury (or lack thereof):

Dr. Michael Gross, an orthopedic surgeon with the Hackensack Medical Center, spoke with ESPN New York and other media outlets to assert that his reading of the MRI showed no damage to Rodriguez's quad that should keep him off the field, and a source with ties to Rodriguez called several media outlets to reveal that Rodriguez had informed the Yankees he is ready to play and wants to be in the lineup Friday night when the team opens a three-game series at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. "He feels he has no choice," the source told ESPNNewYork.com. "He wants to play and they won't let him play. Nobody knows Alex's body better than he does."

The report goes on to describe the key issues surrounding this alleged conspiracy:

But the crux of the issue remains Rodriguez's physical condition. The Yankees maintain Rodriguez, who will turn 38 on Saturday, is not fit to play. According to a source, Rodriguez insists he is and believes the Yankees, with the help of Major League Baseball, are conspiring to keep him off the field. "So he's saying the New York Yankees, Major League Baseball and New York Presbyterian are all in cahoots to phony up an injury?," a highly placed baseball source asked ESPNNewYork.com Tuesday night. "It makes no sense."

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 24, at 3:06 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

SportsCenter provides a surprising update from a doctor who gave Alex Rodriguez a second opinion:

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UPDATE: Sunday, July 21, at 7:44 p.m. ET by Eric Ball

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports the latest timetable for A-Rod's quad injury:

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UPDATE: Sunday, July 21, at 2:20 p.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

From the New York Daily News' Peter Botte:

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UPDATE: Sunday, July 21, at 1 p.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

CBS' Jon Heyman has the latest on Alex Rodriguez:

The Yankees later confirmed Heyman's report:

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UPDATE: Saturday, July 20, at 10:46 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Scranton Times-Tribune reporter Donnie Collins reports the latest on A-Rod's health and possible return:

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UPDATE: Saturday, July 20, at 10:33 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

DFW.com reporter Jay Betsill reports A-Rod's line from Saturday's game:

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UPDATE: Saturday, July 20, at 6:40 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch provides an update on A-Rod:

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UPDATE: Friday, July 19, at 7:40 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Brian Cashman provided words on A-Rod's status (via ESPN's Andrew Marchand):

"If everything goes right, he flies in from Scranton to Texas," Cashman said. "The level of things that can happen would be: If he is healthy, he is in the lineup, playing third base Monday. That's our hope.



"He is in the lineup DHing Monday. That's the second choice. He is tired from playing the number of days in a row, plus DH on Sunday in Scranton. Between the flight and everything else, he says, 'Listen, can we push this until Tuesday.' We return him from rehab on Tuesday.



"The only way that is not going to happen [that he doesn't play] is in his communication, being honest to us on how he is feeling, we have to make some adjustments."

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UPDATE: Friday, July 19, at 7:30 a.m. ET by Sam Westmoreland

Stephen Haynes of Newsday has the latest updates on A-Rod's rehab:

Alex Rodriguez strode to the plate in the third inning, his at-bat soundtracked by a mixture of loud applause and loud-enough derisive comments from the PNC Field crowd. Ever the polarizing figure . . . even in a Triple-A rehab stint. Then Rodriguez delivered. He launched a 1-and-2 offering over the right-centerfield wall for a two-run homer and was showered with cheers. "That felt good," said Rodriguez, who began Thursday night in what is expected to be a four-game assignment with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. "Any time I can get the ball up in the air, especially to centerfield and right-center, that's a good sign."

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 17, at 3:37 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

A-Rod let everyone know the latest on his status in an interview with WFAN Sports Radio Wednesday:

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 17, at 1:42 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

From ESPN's Andrew Marchand:

If all goes according to plan, Alex Rodriguez will complete his minor league rehab this weekend and join the New York Yankees in Texas early next week. "That's the hope," Cashman said in a phone conversation Wednesday. "We'll see through the weekend. We started the 20-day rehab and once we felt he could complete the 20 days and be available to us in Texas. So let's get through the weekend and see where he is at and see if he is major-league able." Cashman said the Yankees could choose to activate Rodriguez on Monday in Texas or give him an additional day off and push his first game to Tuesday. "We have to get through the weekend and then we will evaluate it," Cashman said.

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UPDATE: Monday, July 15, at 5:57 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford



Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger addressed rumors that Rodriguez skipped a rehab start without permission from the Yankees:

Rodriguez confirmed that he did not attend Friday’s game with Class-A Tampa. The no-show upset team officials. Despite the lingering divide – one made obvious by general manager Brian Cashman’s expletive-laden rebuke earlier this summer – Rodriguez attempted to provide a positive spin on the relationship. “Whatever I do with the organization, I’ll definitely keep private,” Rodriguez said before taking batting practice on Monday. “But I will tell you, I think, over the last several weeks we’ve had very productive conversations. And I think we’re all aligned to come back on time and healthy.” The 20-day assignment ends on July 21. Rodriguez expressed excitement about being “a week away” from rejoining the major-league club.

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UPDATE: Wednesday, July 10, at 6:00 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to ESPN's Wallace Matthews, A-Rod isn't ready to return from the disabled list quite yet:

"I think Alex feels that he's not to that level and that he’s not ready to go," Girardi said. "You have to wait until a player tells you he's ready and then you make an evaluation. We don't think he’s to that point yet."



A-Rod is 2-for-15 so far in six rehab games, all in Single A ball. The Yankees have until July 22 to make a determination of whether to reactivate him or put him back on the disabled list. After Tuesday's game, in which he went 0-for-3, A-Rod said he "will definitely be ready" at the end of his 20-day rehab stint.



But unlike Jeter, not a day sooner. "I don't think there's any question that he will take the whole 20 days," GM Brian Cashman said. "I think the fact that one of my guys is playing in Single A and the other is in Triple A tells you which one is closer to returning."



Last week, a source familiar with a conference call on which the Yankees and Rodriguez discussed his rehab assignment told ESPNNewYork.com that A-Rod had expressed uncertainty about when, or even if, he would be able to play again this season.



"It sounded like he was leaving himself every exit strategy possible," the source said.

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UPDATE: Tuesday, July 2, at 8:06 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

ESPN's Pedro Gomez reports A-Rod's performance at the plate from his first rehab game:

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UPDATE: Tuesday, July 2, at 7:01 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to the Associated Press (via CBS' Matt Snyder), A-Rod claims that he will need every rehab game before making his return:

According to the Associated Press, A-Rod said he will need all 20 games -- the maximum allowed during a continual rehab assignment -- before returning to the Yankees' lineup. So, barring a setback, A-Rod is less than a month from returning.

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UPDATE: Monday, July 1, at 4:28 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Alex Rodriguez provided a statement to the media about the latest progression in his rehab from hip surgery, via Sweeny Murti of WFAN.

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UPDATE: Monday, July 1, at 2:18 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has an update on the progression of Alex Rodriguez's rehab.

Jack Curry of YES had more specifics about what kind of action Rodriguez will see in Charleston.

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UPDATE: Friday, June 28, at 5:12 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

MLB.com reporter Bryan Hoch provides an update on A-Rod's status:

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UPDATE: Thursday, June 27, at 5:50 a.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com has the latest on Alex Rodriguez's rehab and timeline for a possible return to the lineup:

"I'm not sure when I can come back," A-Rod is said to have told general manager Brian Cashman and team president Randy Levine on the three-way call. "It could be in July. It could be in August. It could be I won't be able to play at all this year." The account of the call seems to contradict the now-infamous tweet A-Rod sent out Tuesday night, which proclaimed the Yankees third baseman "cleared" to play in games by Dr. Bryan Kelly, who performed hip surgery on Rodriguez in January. That tweet drew an angry response from Cashman, who told ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand, "Alex should just shut the f--- up." It coincides with a story in Thursday's New York Post that reported A-Rod had told Yankees officials in Tampa, Fla. -- where he is doing his rehab -- that his hip isn't quite ready to allow him to return to game action. "He is not ready to play in games," the paper quoted a source as saying. "He is worried about his health."

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UPDATE: Thursday, June 27, at 10:25 a.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

New York Post's George A. King III has the latest on Alex Rodriguez:

Alex Rodriguez informed Yankees officials in Tampa yesterday he isn’t ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment because his surgically repaired hip isn’t up to the task, a source told The Post last night. This despite Rodriguez tweeting a day earlier that he had been cleared to play in games by Dr. Bryan Kelly, the surgeon who operated on him in January. The tweet infuriated general manager Brian Cashman. 'He is not ready to play in games,' a person with knowledge of the conversation said. 'He is worried about his health.’ The source also said he has heard speculation Rodriguez could use the hip problem to retire. That would allow him to collect the $114 million owed to him. Should Rodriguez retire because of a medical problem, he would avoid a possible suspension by MLB in the Biogenesis mess. The Yankees would also be able to collect 80 percent of the $114 million from insurance.

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UPDATE: Monday, June 24, at 10 a.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

Reinforcements could be coming to the Bronx much sooner than later. The New York Daily News' Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson have the latest on Alex Rodriguez's return to the Yankees lineup:

For the last six months, Alex Rodriguez has been linked almost daily to a shady Coral Gables anti-aging clinic and its founder, Anthony Bosch, but there is finally some good news for the star-crossed Yankee: he has been medically cleared to play in rehab games beginning July 1... ...Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the Daily News Sunday that while he hasn’t discussed an exact date for A-Rod’s return to game action, 'it sounds like it’s on schedule. He’s been running, throwing, fielding, and I know it’s approaching. It’s coming.'

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UPDATE: Sunday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m. ET by Sam Westmoreland

Alex Rodriguez ran the bases for the first time since his surgery, according to a report from the Star-Ledger's Andy McCollough.

Per his report:

Both Jeter (broken ankle) and Rodriguez (hip surgery) took tentative steps forward this week. Rodriguez ran the bases at 75-percent effort for the first time on Saturday, Girardi said. “I’m curious to see how he’s going to feel tomorrow, or the next day,” Girardi said. “But that’s something that he hasn’t been doing. And that’s good.” Despite the swirling cloud of the Biogenesis scandal, Rodriguez continues to make steady progress during an eventual return.

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UPDATE: Monday, May 6, at 4 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow

Alex Rodriguez is slowly but surely making his way back from offseason hip surgery, as he ran, played catch and hit off a tee at the Yankees' minor league facility, per the Associated Press (via ESPN).

Rodriguez said it's "like being 8 years old again when I first grabbed a bat."

He added that it's "pretty exciting" and he's "really looking forward to getting back."

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UPDATE: Thursday, May 2, at 3:58 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Alex Rodriguez will begin baseball activities on Monday:

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UPDATE: Friday, Jan. 25, at 3:13 p.m. ET by Matt Fitzgerald

CBS New York has released a distressing report about Rodriguez's recovery from surgery, which he underwent last Wednesday:

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had surgery on his left hip on January 16, and he is expected to be out until after the All-Star break. But there’s a chance that you might not see the 14-time All-Star wearing pinstripes at all in 2013, general manager Brian Cashman told WFAN co-hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Friday. “Yeah,” Cashman replied when asked if there was a chance that A-Rod could miss the entire season. “I think because (of) the serious nature of the surgery and the condition that he’s trying to recover from, you know, there is that chance.”

Rodriguez's production has dropped off in the past two seasons, and this latest setback does not bode well for the rest of his career in New York.

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UPDATE: Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 3:39 p.m. ET by Tyler Conway

According to ESPN's Andrew Marchand, Rodriguez underwent successful surgery on his hip and is expected to take the next six months to recover:

ESPN's Wallace Matthews also noted that New York released a statement saying the surgery went "as planned and without complication."

If Rodriguez's recovery goes as planned, the Yankees slugger will return to the lineup sometime in August—just in time for the team's stretch run. Though it will likely be an arduous rehab, that's good news for both New York and its third baseman.

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UPDATE: Monday, Dec. 3, at 1:35 p.m. ET by Alex Kay

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the New York Yankees have announced Alex Rodriguez will be undergoing a left hip arthroscopy to repair a number of ailments:

The 37-year-old is suffering from a torn labrum, a bone impingement and has to have a cyst repaired.

We'll keep you updated right here with more on the superstar's injury as it becomes available.

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UPDATE: Monday, Dec. 3, at 10:50 a.m. ET by Timothy Rapp

We have a slew of updates on A-Rod's hip injury from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, who clears up the confusion over which hip was injured, reports a date for his surgery and notes when the injury first occurred, which certainly will help explain his postseason struggles:

There you have it, folks. It's possible we won't see A-Rod on the field until July at the latest. This is rough offseason news for the Yankees.

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Original text

From Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

George A. King III of the New York Post has more details on the situation:

According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Rodriguez recently visited Dr. Marc Phillippon in Colorado after experiencing tightness in the hip that Phillippon operated on in 2009. “It’s an issue,’’ the person said. “A big issue.’’

That would be two hip surgeries in four years for A-Rod, obviously a concern for the 37-year-old. On a Yankees team already littered with veterans nearing the end of their careers, A-Rod's health moving forward is a huge concern. He's still due $114 million over the last five years of his contract.

In the past five seasons, the most games Rodriguez has played in the regular season is 138. In 2011, he played just 99 games. This year, he made it through 122 contests.

Not surprisingly, his numbers have declined. This season, he hit .272 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI. In seven postseason games, he hit just .120 with 12 strikeouts and was famously benched three times, most notably in the decisive Game 4 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees were swept in that series.

The Yankees are no strangers to costly injuries. They lost Mariano Rivera and Michael Pineda for the season a year ago, and Andy Pettitte lost most of the year as well. But this is a talented, veteran group, and even if A-Rod loses a big chunk of the season, the Yankees should remain in the postseason hunt.

Stay tuned as more details emerge about Rodriguez's hip.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets have two good hips.