AL East

When New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez launched a home run into the seats at Yankee Stadium for his 3,000th career hit in June, it seemed as though he would never get the ball back, but the dynamic changed Friday, as the Yanks negotiated a deal with the fan who caught it.

The Boston Red Sox don't have an ace starting pitcher. I've said it. Chances are you've probably said it as well. It's been the consensus since, well, ever.

Clay Buchholz, however, begs to differ.

Fact: Alex Rodriguez gets his 3,000th career hit, becomes the 29th member of the historic club.

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Source: New York Yankees

NEW YORK — Four years ago, it was easy to know what to think.

It was easy to know how to feel.

Derek Jeter got to 3,000 hits in the most Derek Jeter of ways, and it wasn't just Yankees fans who celebrated. Even now, four years later, the pitcher who gave up Jeter's 3,000th hit can talk about how "special" that day was.

New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez recorded the 3,000th hit of his career on a solo home run off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in the first inning of Friday's 7-2 win, joining Derek Jeter as the only players to reach the 3,000-hit mark in a Yankees uniform, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Days after recording his 2,000th career RBI, Alex Rodriguez has joined another exclusive club. 

Boston Red Sox All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia has returned to the lineup on June 20 after missing three of the team's last four games after a knee injury suffered on June 15, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Pedroia has been banged up at various stages of his MLB career, never quite making it through a full 162 games in any season.

Manny Machado showed the upside early.

He showed why his major league debut was an anticipated event. He showed why so many scouts and the Baltimore Orioles believed he could be great. He proved he was well worthy of being the third overall pick in the 2010 draft.

The New York Yankees find themselves in an interesting position as we approach the trade deadline.

The team wasn't exactly expected to compete this year, at least not for a division title. However, after 63 games, the Yankees are just one game back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays and firmly in the running for a wild-card spot.

The immediate thought was “bust” after the 2014 season.