Joe Girardi has remained in consistent contact with Alex Rodriguez, who will return to the New York Yankees next season after being suspended for the entire 2014 campaign.

"There is going to be attention," Girardi said of Rodriguez's return. "Some of it is going to be negative. Some of it is going to be positive. We'll deal with it. I know there is going to be a lot of attention the first week [of spring training], and then everyone sort of disperses and covers other stories around the country. We'll have to deal with a lot in the beginning, but it will spread around the country. It always does."

Girardi said Rodriguez is preparing to play third base, but the Yankees have concerns about whether he'll be able to man the position consistently.

"We live in a forgiving world in the sports world," said Girardi. "It is something we live in. His job, his main concern, just has to be getting prepared to play and just doing his job. That's what he needs to do."