A-Rod to have hip surgery

TAMPA, Fla., March 8 (UPI) -- New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic surgery on his injured right hip, General Manager Brian Cashman said Sunday.

The surgery will be performed Monday in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Mac Philippon of the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic for sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, Newsday reported.

Rodriguez will stay in Colorado for "the foreseeable future," Cashman said.

Earlier, the Yankees had decided against surgery, choosing a rest and rehabilitation period instead.

Rodriguez has had tightness in his hip during spring training in Tampa, Fla. A cyst caused by a torn labrum in the hip was drained Wednesday.

Cashman said the decision to go ahead with the operation to repair torn cartilage was made during discussions the past two days.

"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."

The 33-year-old third baseman could be ready to play in six to nine weeks, Philippon said.

Rodriguez has 553 home runs and a .306 batting average in his major-league career.