Steinbrenner won't address A-Rod return next year

NEW YORK — Hank Steinbrenner says too much blame is being directed at Alex Rodriguez for Detroit's sweep of the Yankees, and won't address whether the slumping star will be back in New York next season.

"He was just one of quite a few that just had a bad time at the plate," the team's co-chairperson said Friday during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "So is it fair to accuse him of everything but the Kennedy assassination? No, it's not fair, but we'll see what happens from this point on."

The Yankees owe the third baseman $114 million over the next five seasons. Rodriguez, who has the ability to block trades, was benched for three games in the playoffs and pinch hit for in three others. A-Rod said he wants to stay in New York.

"I'm not going to get into that at this point," Steinbrenner said.

With a major league-high $222 million payroll, the Yankees expected nothing less than their 28th World Series title. But Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Eric Chavez combined to hit .110 with eight RBIs and 57 strikeouts in nine postseason games.

"It was something to not be very pleased about," Steinbrenner said. "Everybody is kind of a bewildered and a little angry, too. But that's natural."