While many problems can be pinned on Alex Rodriguez, New York radio host Mike Francesa’s afternoon simulcast getting booted from the YES network isn’t really the embattled Yankees star’s fault.

It probably didn’t help, however, that Francesa rolled out the red carpet for Rodriguez in the middle of his tiff with Major League Baseball.

Francesa chatted about the reasons why YES dropped his afternoon simulcast this week after the New York Daily News reported that Francesa’s radio show would no longer be broadcast on the network for the first time since March 2002. He seemed optimistic that he’d find a new TV home and pointed to “economic” and “editorial” decisions behind the change.

One of those editorial decisions, apparently, was that he welcomed Rodriguez onto the show, which irritated Yankees leadership, according to the Daily News. Rodriguez most recently went on the show in late November, as his appeals process was wrapping up, and blasted commissioner Bud Selig as well as denying that he used performance-enhancing drugs, among other claims.

“Was A-Rod an issue? I’m sure he was at some level,” Francesa said. “I guarantee he was.”

Rodriguez has been a big headache for the Yankees this year as he’s fought his 211-game MLB suspension. A decision in that case is expected in January.

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