TAMPA, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez is upbeat as the New York Yankees prepare to start spring training games Wednesday with a split-squad matchup against the Detroit Tigers.
''I like our team,'' Rodriguez said Tuesday. ''We have a veteran team. We have some youth. We have a good combination of diversity on our roster.''
The 40-year-old designated hitter is not scheduled to play until Thursday's home game against a Philadelphia spilt squad. He is also expected to play Saturday against Boston.
''I'm happy, healthy and ready to go,'' Rodriguez said. ''I'm in shape and really excited about this season because I think we have a fun team.''
New York ended a two-year absence from the playoffs last year but lost to Houston in the AL wild-card game.
''Last year we had some unfinished business,'' A-Rod said.
Rodriguez feels this year's Yankees' team has something like a ''board of trustees'' when it comes to senior players setting the tone.
''We have great leaders in our clubhouse,'' Rodriguez said. ''There's about seven, eight guys that are actually doing great leading.''
Although he slumped late last season, Rodriguez finished with a .250 batting average, 33 homers and 86 RBIs. A-Rod sat out all of 2014 for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract, and was sidelined for most of 2013 following hip surgery.
''There's a lot of weight off my shoulders,'' Rodriguez said. ''I'm certainly in a much better place.''