HR people don't get paid to follow sports, so the HR Capitalist does it for you, translating the scores and news into a language you can understand....  Today we continue with the 2007 Baseball Preview, HR Generalist style....  Today's profile - Alex Rodriguez, or as his friends (and detractors) call him, A-Rod...

Player - Alex Rodriguez

Team - New York Yankees

History - "Alex" Rodriguez, commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a player, widely regarded as one of the best in the history of the game. He is the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees, having played shortstop earlier in his career for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.  Since 1996, (his first full season) through 2006 he leads the major leagues in home runs (HR), runs scored, runs batted in (RBI), total bases and extra-base hits. Of all players in baseball history at age 30, he is first all-time in both HR and runs scored, 2nd in total bases and extra base hits, 3rd in RBI, and 4th in hits. 

What can possibly be the issue, right?

Primary HR Issue - When playing with Texas, A-Rod signed the richest contract in sports history, a 10-year, $252 million deal.  He then was traded to one of the most hard-core, demanding franchises in sports, the Yankees, where has has been the subject of greater scrutiny and has experienced diminished performance.  Like the struggling sales pro brought in to make it happen after a successful stint elsewhere, the burners get turned up on him every day in his new company - and he is responding by missing the quota he was expected to deliver on - never a good sign.   The result, lots of chirping around the office about the fact he's the highest paid on the team and not getting it done.  Finally, he's got a Myers-Briggs combo that makes him implode on himself from a confidence standpoint, making a true emergence from the downward spiral unlikely....

What you, the HR Pro, would do about it - How does referring him out the EAP you have sound?  Additionally, you'll talk (whether you want to or not) repeatedly to your A-Rod's manager (note - most of the conversations will begin by them wanting to move him out) and provide him with additional coaching techniques, etc. 

The Likely End - Voluntary separation.  A-Rod's got an out in his contract this year that allows him to go elsewhere, so he'll likely reconnect with someone who experienced the pre-Yankee A-Rod and find a place he feels he can be appreciated.