Cashman expects A-Rod to join Yanks on Monday

BOSTON -- The Yankees are preparing to have Alex Rodriguez active and in their lineup on Monday against the Rangers in Arlington after the slugger's Minor League rehabilitation stint expires.

Rodriguez is currently playing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and hit a two-run homer on Thursday against Louisville. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the club's best-case scenario is to have Rodriguez playing third base on Monday.

"He's due to DH on Sunday [at Triple-A]. If he gets through the weekend fine, and he responds to the DH fine and flying from Scranton to join us in Texas, all that is fine and he's like, 'I'm ready to go,' [then] he's in there," Cashman said.

Cashman left some wiggle room in case Rodriguez is fatigued, saying that the Yankees would be willing to push Rodriguez's 2013 debut to Tuesday, if necessary.

"Ultimately the hope is that he's ready for us on Monday," Cashman said.

Brent Lillibridge became the most recent addition to the Yankees' third-base carousel on Friday. Kevin Youkilis, David Adams, Jayson Nix, Chris Nelson and Luis Cruz entered play Friday having combined for four homers and 28 RBIs, the lowest hot-corner production in the American League.

"I think [Rodriguez] will be better than the production we've gotten from third so far this year, all due respect to everyone else," Cashman said.