Fan to present A-Rod with ball from 3,000th hit

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association released a joint statement on Friday to announce a resolution in the dispute between the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez over a million milestone bonus in his contract.

Now before Yankees’ fans accuse Hample of being selfish, Hample has specified that he is talking with the Yankees, Rodriguez, and Pitch In For Baseball in terms of a donation, as stated earlier.

“One person familiar with the discussions said at some point they were involving a scenario whereby they’d ‘split the difference, ‘ a suggestion that the Yankees would pay about $3 million”, with the other half going to charity.

Hample will present the ball to Rodriguez at a 5 p.m. ET press conference Friday before the Yankees take on the Rays at Yankee Stadium. According to the announcment, the team will donate $3.5 million among four charities.

Hample has been known to be a ball-hawking presence in the stands, claiming to have caught 8,000 baseballs during his attendance at games; this includes batting practice as well.

Alex Rodriguez’s bonus battle is over.

While Hample will ultimately benefit from the exchange, the fact that a charity is involved makes it a much more meaningful and fulfilling transaction than most probably expected. Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. will determine the initiatives to be supported by the $2.5 million contribution after consulting with Mr. Rodriguez, and taking into consideration the focus of Mr. Rodriguez’s past charitable contributions.

The Yankees have been a longtime funder of both. Rodriguez was scheduled to earn $6 million each for home runs 660, 714, 755, 762 and 763. A clause in the 10-year, $275 million contract Rodriguez signed in 2007 earmarked a series of home run targets, starting with 660 and culminating with the all-time home run record of 763, and stipulated that Rodriguez would receive cash payments each time he reached one of the thresholds, while the Yankees reaped rewards from marketing each successive home run chase.

The Yankees and Rodriguez have seen a thaw this season to a previously icy relationship, a result of Rodriguez’s involvement in the Biogenesis case, his performance-enhancing drug suspension and subsequent failed appeal.