Alex Rodriguez trade rumors: Yankees to trade A-Rod before contract expires

The New York Yankees will probably discuss a trade involving Alex Rodriguez with the Miami Marlins, if they haven’t already, reports Buster Olney of ESPN. Olney believes Marlins left-hander Mark Buehrle could join right-hander Heath Bell in trade talks:

So, yes, the Yankees will probably talk to the Marlins and hold their own lawn sale, taking 10 cents on the dollar just to get rid of an outdated superstar. Mark Buehrle's contract is heavily backloaded, and he's overpriced, so maybe the Yankees will ask about the left-hander, or maybe they'll take Heath Bell in return just to make the money work out a little better.

It was reported yesterday that the Yankees and Marlins had discussed trade involving Rodriguez. One version of the deal had New York eating A-Rod’s remaining contract. Another had Bell and his remaining contract coming to the Yankees in exchange for Rodriguez and salary relief.

Olney believes Mark Buehrle and the $48 million remaining on his contract could also be involved in a potential trade.

While Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has shot down these initial rumors, Olney believes Rodriguez will be traded "long before his contract expires in 2017." The 37-year-old is owed $114 million over the next five seasons.

Olney expects the Yankees to handle the Rodriguez situation similarly to how they dealt with right-hander A.J. Burnett last winter. He says New York decided that relationship wouldn’t work anymore and they ate the salary they needed to in order to facilitate a trade.