Alex Rodriguez is not guaranteed to immediately return as the starting third baseman of the New York Yankees, according to Joe Girardi.

"We have to see where he is at," Girardi said. "I think that is the thing that we have to do. I believe he is going to be 40 next summer, and we need to see where he is physically at."

Rodriguez, who will turn 40 next July, will be removed from the restricted list at the end of the World Series.

During his yearlong suspension for his connection to the Biogenesis drug scandal, Rodriguez could have been with the Yankees, but all parties agreed to keep a distance after the contentious legal fight.