If Alex Rodriguez needs hip surgery, whether it be soon or in the middle of the season, the Yankees are expected to ask Cody Ransom to shoulder the load at third base. Ransom, 33, has just 183 big-league at-bats. "As a team, we don't want to have to replace a guy like that," Ransom said. "Alex brings so much to the table. His numbers speak for themselves." He appeared in 33 games for the Yankees last season, hitting .302 with four home runs and eight RBI.