A-Rod apologizes to New York Yankees

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A once muscly and maligned megastar summoned front office brass to Yankee Stadium Tuesday, as Alex Rodriguez apologized for his suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs and the associated saga.

"Today we held a meeting at Yankee Stadium between Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, Brian Cashman, Jean Afterman, Alex Rodriguez and Jim Sharp," the Yankees said in a statement. "Alex initiated the meeting and apologized to the organization for his actions over the past several years.

"There was an honest and frank discussion on all of the issues. As far as the Yankees are concerned, the next step is to play baseball in spring training."

According to ESPN New York, the Yankees told Rodriguez he had to "make up for his behavior."

Rodriguez met with and subsequently apologized to new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred last month, according to ESPN New York.

Rodriguez has sued Major League Baseball, its player's union and the Yankees' team doctor following the Biogenesis saga, but the lawsuits have been dropped.

Rodriguez is signed through 2017 on a 10-year, $252.87 million deal. The 20-year-veteran turns 40 in July and is still due $64 million. Rodriguez was forced to sit out 162 games last season, after winning an appeal with an original 211 game suspension.

Since hitting 30 home runs, with 125 RBI, and hitting .270 in 137 games in 2010, Rodriguez has hit 41 home runs, has 138 RBI, and has hit .269 in 265 games.