Brian Cashman is hoping that Alex Rodriguez can be the everyday designated hitter for the New York Yankees.

Cashman confirmed Tuesday that Chase Headley will be the team's third baseman.

"I can't expect Alex to be anything," Cashman said. "I've got to think the worst and hope for the best. Even before the suspension, he wasn't the same player at third base on the defensive or offensive side. And that was before the suspension.

"And now he's been out of the game for a year. He's approaching 40 years of age. And just to automatically assume given his circumstances that he'll be able to plug right in, play third as an everyday guy and hold up and be productive, I think that would be dangerous thinking from my perspective, in the seat I'm sitting in."