The New York Yankees have no plans to release Alex Rodriguez, according to Brian Cashman.

The Yankees have made it clear that Rodriguez will have a very reduced role with the club going forward.

Rodriguez is owed $27 million through the 2017 season.

"First and foremost, you just have to flat-out admit, it is not easy to eat -- meaning release -- that kind of money," Cashman told ESPN Radio. "It's not something you come to a quick decision on. You see players -- and I don't want to name them because they are still playing -- but there are players around the game who are on big contracts that have been well-below-average players now for many years, not just a year.

"Alex hit 33 home runs, I believe, last year. This is a bigger media market and more attention, and there is certainly a tempest about what should be done. All I can tell you is, slow down a little bit and here is the counterarguments: There is a very large financial commitment through next year on a player of Alex's caliber that was productive as early last year."

Rodriguez is batting .204 with nine home runs, 29 RBIs and a .609 OPS in 62 games. He is four home runs shy of 700 home runs for his career.