Alex Rodriguez will have surgery on his hip after all, a less intrusive procedure that would keep him sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
The decision comes days after the Yankees and Rodriguez said he would attempt to play through a torn labrum injury and avoid surgery until after the season.
It was thought Rodriguez had two options: play through the injury or have surgery that would sideline him for at least four months.
But upon further examination by Dr. Marc Phillipon in Vail, Colo., it was determined an arthroscopic procedure could repair the labrum and relieve a pincer impingement with less recovery time.
"It was Alex's decision," the doctor said. "But the Yankees were there all the way."
Rodriguez will have the surgery Monday morning in Colorado, where he will remain "for the forseeable future," according to Brian Cashman.
All parites involved -- Rodriguez, the doctor, the team -- seemed extremely confident this compromise option would allow Rodriguez to return in a shorter amount of time and able to play at a higher level than he would have otherwise.
"The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner," Philippon said. "The approach we're using is much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now."
Eight weeks from tomorrow is May 4, the target date for his return to the major leagues. In typically dramatic fashion, that is the first game in the new Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox.
Rodriguez still will need more extensive surgery to repair a cam impingement in the hip after the season. That operation requires bone shaving, and extensive bleeding and swelling, hence the longer recovery time.
This lesser surgery became an option after a cyst in the hip was drained last week. Rodriguez has remained in Colorado for observation by Phillipon.
It was first reported on Thursday that Rodriguez would have surgery and be out 10 weeks, but later that day the Yankees announced A-Rod would opt for a more conservative treament of rest and exercise.
The team announced this latest change early Sunday morning.
Rodriguez has nine seasons remaining on a 10-year, $275 million deal, so the Yankees have to look at the situation beyond this season.
"He is a huge asset in the long term. This is a very difficult decision for everyone involved," Cashman said Saturday.
But according to Cashman, Rodriguez wants to be part of a special summer. His offseason -- and the team's spring training -- has been dominated by revelations of his use of banned substances in Texas from 2001-03.
"He doesn't want to be on the outside looking in," Cashman said. "I know he wants to help this team now. He knows we have a good team."
If Rodriguez attempted to play through the problem and broke down after Opening Day, he likely would have been gone for the year. Now the Yankees can have him back with, seemingly, no future absence hanging over their heads due to the hip.
It also could keep the team from having to acquire a replacement, using backup infielders Cody Ransom and Angel Berroa until Rodriguez gets back in May, after approximately 25 games.
And while it's a popular belief among those who loathe Rodriguez for his October failures and out-sized ego that the Yankees are better off without him, that isn't the way talent evaluators see it.
"You don't find that production anywhere else," a scout said yesterday. "Of course they would miss him. To think otherwise is foolish."