Confronting A-rod

The details of his contract will be parsed too. The 10-year deal Rodriguez signed in November 2007 is loaded with incentives for individual achievement, its rewards most notably linked to his power. He is reportedly guaranteed $275 million and could receive a $6 million bonus each time he ties one of the top four sluggers: currently Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Bonds (762). He cashes in another $6 million by supplanting Bonds as the home run king.

Rodriguez's deal was built on home run prowess and approved by the commissioner's office. Yankees owners Hank and Hal Steinbrenner argued that Rodriguez's chase of the most glamorous record in baseball would generate such enormous revenue for the team that the player was entitled to share in the profits.

The Yankees would not comment on the structure of Rodriguez's contract—including whether bonuses could be voided if proof exists that he used performance-enhancing drugs—but baseball sources familiar with the deal say there is no language about steroids in it that would put Rodriguez at risk of losing money.

His finances are secure. His future as a Hall of Famer is not.