Derek Jeter, former Yankees weigh in on whether Alex Rodriguez belongs in Monument Park

NEW YORK — For the first time since Aug. 12, 2016, Alex Rodriguez was back in a New York Yankees jersey. His former teammate, Derek Jeter, quipped that Rodriguez wears his old Yankees uniform all the time around his house.

Rodriguez made his Yankees Old-Timers’ Day debut Saturday, with the organization honoring the 2009 World Series championship team. The three-time American League MVP said he was surprised to receive the invitation, given his bumpy history with the club. When Rodriguez first learned of it, he immediately told his daughters, Natasha and Ella, that their dad would be honored by the organization where he won the only title in his 22-year career.

The former third baseman said, “It’s nice to be back in the fold,” when discussing his return to Yankee Stadium for a non-broadcast appearance. Rodriguez’s welcome back naturally led to questions about whether this could be a precursor to him eventually being honored in Monument Park.

Rodriguez ranks eighth all-time in franchise history in fWAR, sixth all-time in home runs and was a key figure on the 2009 championship team. But his legacy with the franchise was tattered when he was suspended for performance-enhancing drug use and filed a malpractice lawsuit against Yankees team doctor Christopher Ahmad. Rodriguez eventually dropped the lawsuit and has admitted fault with how he handled himself.

Jeter, who had a well-documented up-and-down relationship with Rodriguez and is one of the most illustrious figures in franchise history, was asked whether he believes his former teammate belongs with him in Monument Park.

“I don’t make those decisions, man,” Jeter said. “That’s the best way to put it. I know people are looking for headlines. I think you got (Brian) Cashman here somewhere. I don’t even know if Cash makes that decision. I would call up Hal (Steinbrenner) and see what he has to say. Don’t get me in the middle of it. That’s a Hal question.”

While Jeter was noncommittal, YES Network’s David Cone was certain No. 13 belonged in Monument Park. He believes Rodriguez’s ownership of his past mistakes and his desire to make amends with the franchise over the past decade is enough to include him.

“I’m one who believes that things like Monument Park and the Hall of Fame are meant to document the history of the game,” Cone said. “A-Rod is a big part of the history. I believe that you have to cover that part of it. You just can’t take a brush and make people disappear as if they didn’t exist or they didn’t have that incredible history. I think the fans would like to see it. If you took a fan poll, he would overwhelmingly get support.”

Both CC Sabathia and Jorge Posada, Rodriguez’s teammates on the 2009 team, took the same approach as Jeter. They left that decision up to Steinbrenner. It is telling, though, that three of the most beloved members in recent Yankees history would not advocate for Rodriguez when given the opportunity to do so.

“That’s not up for me,” Sabathia said. “I do think he probably should have won the (2009) ALCS MVP, or we should have shared it because in ‘09 if he doesn’t hit some of those big homers or have some of those big at-bats, we definitely don’t win.”

Added Posada: “I can’t answer that. I feel like his numbers speak for himself. So we’ll see. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t know. That’s up to management.”

Francisco Cervelli, a backup catcher on the 2009 team, called Rodriguez “the greatest teacher I ever had.” When Cervelli was called up in 2009, Posada and Jose Molina were hurt. Rodriguez took Cervelli under his wing and “taught me a lot of the things I know about this game.”

Like Rodriguez, Cervelli was busted in the Biogenesis scandal and suspended for 50 games. Rodriguez would not be the sole known PED user in Monument Park. Andy Pettitte admitted in 2007 to using human growth hormone.

“He’s, in the history (of the sport), the top three best players in this game,” Cervelli said. “The numbers are there. There’s no question for anyone. But he should be. I think, at some point, he will.”

In 2016, Steinbrenner said on “The Michael Kay Show” that Rodriguez’s inclusion would be a “bridge to cross when I come to it.” Since then, Steinbrenner has not publicly made his thoughts known on the topic.

Rodriguez’s former manager with the Seattle Mariners, Lou Piniella, whom the former third baseman calls a father figure, said “without question” his former player deserves to be honored by the Yankees and belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite him getting suspended for cheating. He also advocated for Barry Bonds’ and Roger Clemens’ inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

“Let me tell you why I would,” Piniella said, “because of all the people in the Hall of Fame, you can’t tell me someone didn’t cheat in one way or another.

“I’m not a baseball purist. I’ve never been. I think at the time that some of these guys were using steroids, baseball knew it and didn’t encourage it but didn’t want to stop it either because it was popular for the sport. So I don’t know, but these are great players we’re talking about.”

Current Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who wears No. 13, chose the number because of Rodriguez, who was one of his favorite players growing up. Chisholm posted a picture of Rodriguez wearing No. 13 on his Instagram page during Old-Timers’ Day. Given the history between Rodriguez and the Yankees’ leadership group, it seems unlikely that he will receive the highest honor the franchise doles out. It’s something that Rodriguez has thought about many times since his retirement.

“I would love to be in,” Rodriguez said, “But obviously, that’s not my decision. I honor everything about the New York Yankees.”