Yankees general manager says team doesn’t plan to pay bonus to Alex Rodriguez for 660th homer

BOSTON – New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says the team doesn’t plan to pay a $6 million bonus to Alex Rodriguez for his 660th home run.

Cashman spoke Saturday before the Yankees played at Boston. On Friday night, Rodriguez hit No. 660, tying Willie Mays for fourth on the career list.

“We have the right, but not the obligation to do something, and that’s it,” Cashman said.

“So there is no dispute, from our perspective,” he told reporters.

Rodriguez missed last season while serving a drug suspension. The Yankees and A-Rod have a marketing agreement that calls for $6 million each for up to five achievements, payable within 15 days of designation by the team.

The accomplishments were contemplated to be homers 660, 714, 755, 762 and 763 as he moved up baseball’s list. Rodriguez trails only Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Bonds (762).

The Yankees didn’t market his pursuit of Mays’ mark.

“It’s not ‘you do this, you get that.’ It’s completely different. It’s not all of a sudden, we’re choosing not to do something,” Cashman said.

“If we choose to pursue something, we will choose to pursue it. If we choose not to, it’s our right not to. In both cases, we’re honouring the contract,” Cashman said.

No payment likely would trigger a grievance on Rodriguez’s behalf by the players’ union. Without a settlement, the case would be heard by an arbitrator.

“The great thing about contracts, if there are any disputes, there’s a system in place to determine if there is some misunderstanding,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any misunderstanding.”

Rodriguez hasn’t commented on what legal path he would take.

“Those things will take care of themselves,” he said Friday night.