A-Rod, Yanks settle dispute; team to give $3.5M to charities

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees have settled their dispute over a marketing payment the team declined to give him, agreeing the club will make $3.5 million in charitable contributions.

At the time Rodriguez and the Yankees signed their $275 million, 10-year contract in December 2007, they reached a separate marketing deal that called for $6 million each for up to five milestone accomplishments. That included A-Rod's 660th home run, tying Willie Mays for fourth on the career list.

New York said it had the discretion not to make the payment, leading to a possible grievance by the players' association.

Under the deal announced Friday, the Yankees will split $1 million among the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa and Pitch In For Baseball. New York will give $2.5 million to the MLB Urban Youth Foundation, to be used in programs to increase youth participation in baseball.

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