DETROIT — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman strongly denied ysterday discussions between the club and the Marlins about a trade involving Alex Rodriguez have been held.
According to MLBlogsNetwork, the clubs have talked about a trade in which the Yankees would pay all of the $114 million owed to the 37-year-old Rodriguez, who has been benched for two postseason games and pinch hit for in three others. He wasn’t in the lineup last night when the game was rained out and isn’t expected to be start today in Game 4.
“I have had no discussions with the Florida Marlins, certainly would never have any trade discussions under the circumstances,’’ Cashman said. “There are no discussions whatsoever. They are false.
“We are not down the line on any trade talks with any of our players, including Alex. And I haven’t engaged any general manager about trade discussions since the [Aug. 30] deadline. I’ve had no trade discussions, so false, 100 percent false.’’
While the Yankees were in Miami during spring training Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson joked on the field in front of Yankees’ executives about Rodriguez coming home to play in Miami.
Rodriguez is 2-for-23 (.087) this postseason and 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handers.
Joe Girardi had Eric Chavez, who was in an 0-for-14, postseason slump, at third in last night’s lineup and will likely do so today.
* Phil Hughes told Girardi the back stiffness that forced him out of Game 3 Tuesday night has subsided. The Yankees could have dropped Hughes from the ALCS roster and added a pitcher, but didn’t make a move.
“He said he is okay,” said Girardi. “We will see how he feels [today],’’ Girardi said.