Yankees’ A-Rod situation is becoming untenable

6:45 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez last started a game for the New York Yankees on July 22. He will play Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays — batting cleanup, no less — but after that, he is likely to disappear from the Yankees lineup until Wednesday night at the earliest, when the Mets start a lefty, Steven Matz, at Yankee Stadium.

After that, it is anyone’s guess when he will be back on the field. As Joe Girardi said before Saturday’s game, “I understand the situation, but to get more at-bats, you have to be productive.”

The converse of that statement is also true, of course: To be productive, you’ve got to get more at-bats.

When the apparent contradiction of this was pointed out to Girardi — how can A-Rod find his swing again if he rarely plays, and when will Girardi see fit to play him if he doesn’t find his swing — the manager did what he often does when confronted with unanswerable questions. He grew testy.

“When I don’t play him, I’m questioned,” he said. “When I play him, I’m questioned. Anyone who wants to do it can do it next time.”

As was the case in the final seasons of Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter, it is obvious that the situation between Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees is no longer working for anyone involved.

Alex Rodriguez looks on from the dugout during the second inning Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

For one thing, Girardi is putting A-Rod in a very difficult position, writing his name into the lineup card once a week or so while telling him he needs to hit more to stay in the lineup. Saturday, the Yankees are asking him to raise their eyebrows against Drew Smyly, who has not won a …

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