Breaking down Alex Rodriguez's future

The Yankee third baseman became a bench player in the playoffs, but is that his role in the future?

A-Rod: 'I will be back' with Yankees

Alex Rodriguez says he will be back with the New York Yankees next season, according to Peter Botte on Twitter:

Plans change, but ARod says he has no plans to waive no-trade clause. "That's correct. I will be back. I have a lot to prove."

— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) October 19, 2012

Speculation has been rampant, with the numerous benchings Rodriguez endured throughout the Yankees' failed playoff run, that the team is desperate to unload the erstwhile superstar. He performed miserably in the 2012 post-season, collecting only three singles in 25 plate appearances while failing to drive in a single run. He did not start in either games 3 or 4 in the ALCS, as the Yankees were swept by the Detroit Tigers.

As Botte noted, plans change. Rodriguez is not a popular man in New York, and though he may want to stay with the Yankees, he could decide it is best to part ways. He is certainly not the all-world mega-star he once was, but his .272/.353/.430 hitting line in 2012 would be a welcomed addition to a number of teams' infields.

A-Rod to Marlins: Joke, or soon-to-be reality?

When Keith Olbermann first wrote in his blog Wednesday that the Yankees and Marlins were considering a trade that would send Alex Rodriguez to Miami, there were denials:

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he has had no trade talks regarding Rodriguez with anyone and described the first report as "false."

That ESPN New York link, however, also says:

What began as a casual, joking conversation between New York Yankees president Randy Levine and Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez playing for the Marlins may develop into serious trade talks this offseason, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation.

Could it really happen? There are some obstacles:

A second source with knowledge of Rodriguez's thinking said the likely only place Rodriguez eventually would accept a trade to is Miami. Rodriguez has five years and $114 million remaining on his contract, not including milestone home run bonuses.

Ed Valentine of SB Nation New York thinks it should happen for the betterment of the Yankees:

No matter the financial cost it seems that a divorce would be best for everybody. The cost of getting rid of him, in dollars, will be exorbitant. We are already seeing what keeping a fading A-Rod the Yankees no longer believe in is costing them on the field and in the fan base.

It might have started as a "Ha, ha, get this!" joke between team executives. The more it's parsed by everyone involved, though, the more sense it seems to make for everyone involved.

Olbermann: Yankees, Marlins could work out A-Rod swap

Wait, what?