Alex Rodriguez to Miss Part of 2013 Season

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez already had surgery on his hip that allowed him to play in 2012. Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting, however, that another surgery is in the works for ARod and his hip.

Oct 17, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez before game four of the 2012 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently, Rodriguez was playing through another tear in his hip, the same injury on the same hip that was once before repaired, during this past season. The surgery will likely cost Rodriguez the start of the 2013 season.

With ARod and shortstop Derek Jeter both recovering from injury this Winter, the Yankees have to look at adding infield depth.

New York has Eduardo Nunez under contract and Jayson Nix was re-signed to a minor league deal after being non-tendered on Friday, but third baseman Eric Chavez, who spelled Rodriguez for much of the 2012 campaign, is a free agent.

Rodriguez posted a .783 OPS last season, his lowest in any full season of his 19-year career. Rodriguez missed 36 games last summer after being hit by a pitch, which broke his hand. After the hand injury, he returned to play, but really struggled at the plate, especially versus right handed pitchers. Over the final 28 games, Rodriguez hit just three home runs and slugged just .369 overall.

His struggles eventually lead to manager Joe Girardi lifting the future Hall of Famer twice for a pinch-hitter late in Yankee playoff games and eventually benching Rodriguez while New York was getting swept out of the ALCS by the Detroit Tigers.

Rodriguez is owed $114 million over the next five seasons.

UPDATE (10:58 am): Rodriguez will undergo surgery in January and could miss as much as six months, according to Sherman, who says the torn labrum is actually on the left hip. Rodriguez had right hip surgery in 2009. That timetable would potentially keep ARod out until June or July. The Yankees will now enter the market for a third baseman.