I like that scenario too....as do most here I am sure. NYT answers some questions here, nothing really new but here it is Q. Since he is now facing a suspension that begins Thursday, how come Rodriguez can still play? A. Rodriguez has vowed to appeal his suspension to baseball�s arbitrator, Fredric Horowitz, as is his right under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program between Major League Baseball and the players association. During the period of the appeal, which could take a month, or more, Rodriguez is allowed to take part in games. Q. If the suspension is upheld by the arbitrator, what then? A. Rodriguez must cease playing immediately and remove himself from the team. He cannot play in the minor leagues, and professional leagues in Japan, Korea and Taiwan honor suspensions by Major League Baseball, so he cannot play there, either. If he is absolutely dedicated to continue playing, he might have an avenue in the independent minor leagues in this country that are not affiliated with major league teams. Q. If the suspension is overturned what happens? A. Rodriguez can continue to play as if nothing ever happened. But the acrimony and distrust between him and the Yankees would not quickly, if ever, go away. Q. Rodriguez is owed almost $95 million through 2017. Will he be paid during the suspension? A. No. Q. What does that mean for the Yankees? A. Incredible savings, perhaps as much as $36 million, if the suspension is upheld in full. Even better, the money can be deducted from the Yankees� payroll calculations in 2014. And if the Yankees� payroll is under $189 million in 2014, the team can collect a substantial rebate. In all, a suspended Rodriguez will give the Yankees much more financial flexibility in the short term. Q. Unless he truly believed he was innocent, why didn�t he accept a deal from Major League Baseball that would have been less harsh than the suspension he is now apparently going to fight? A. Baseball was willing to accept a deal for a smaller suspension for Rodriguez, say, perhaps for 150 games. But for Rodriguez, the difference between that number � which would have allowed him to come back in the second half of next season � and 211 games was not big enough to convince him that a deal made sense. With each passing day Rodriguez, who is 38, presumably gets less productive. Already in a visible decline, his better days are probably the ones directly in front of him, compared with those a year or more away. Now is his best, and perhaps last, chance, to perform well. In addition, under Rodriguez�s existing contract, he makes more money this year ($28 million) than in ensuing years ($25 million in 2014, $21 million in 2015), so, financially, it makes sense to push the suspension back as far as possible. Q. Can he sue? A. The short answer is yes, but it is not an easy road to take. First, he must pursue the appeals process, as provided in the collective bargaining agreement. After that, there are complicated steps that must be undertaken in pursuit of other legal action. Rodriguez�s legal team has been discussing the possibility of filing a suit in federal court that could claim that the Yankees and Major League Baseball collaborated in suspending him as a way to escape the remainder of his hugely expensive contract. His lawyers are also considering an argument that the Yankees� medical staff botched the diagnoses of Rodriguez�s physical troubles for years on end, forcing him to seek alternative treatment. Q. What happens when the suspension is over? A. Theoretically, Rodriguez can come back and play. But he may be 39 years old at the time and there is no telling if he will be capable of doing so. Still, he will have 61 million reasons to try, representing the money still left on his contract for the 2015 through 2017 seasons. However, if at that point, Rodriguez is deemed physically unable to play, he could pursue a medical disability. In that case, he would collect all of his money and the Yankees would get roughly 80 percent back through insurance. Or, perhaps they could come to an agreement to buy Rodriguez out of the remainder of his contract. It would be costly, but for the Yankees, after so many years of Rodriguez distractions, it might be worth it. Q. Could the Yankees void the rest of his contract? A. There is a provision in the joint drug program that states that only the commissioner�s office, and not major league teams, can penalize a player for substance-abuse matters. The Yankees have looked into ways to void Rodriguez�s contract and have not really found any, but there is a possibility that when Major League Baseball presents its evidence against Rodriguez that an avenue to void the contract may present itself. But it would be very difficult.