New York Yankees fans are unsure of what to expect from Alex Rodriguez when he returns next season, but former teammate David Phelps said he believes A-Rod's comeback will be smoother than expected.

Rodriguez, who will turn 40 years old next season, will return to the Yankees in the 2015 MLB season after serving a one-season ban due to his involvement in the highly publicized Biogenesis scandal.

Most MLB analysts and fans are unsure about how his teammates will accept Rodriguez following the controversy, but Phelps said that he has no doubt A-Rod will easily adjust to the situation because the team is like a family.

"One thing that starts all at the top with Joe [Girardi] and goes all the way to the bottom is that the team is a family," Phelps said in an interview with the New York Daily News.

Phelps is expecting a lot of media attention for Rodriguez and the Yankees next season, but he is convinced that there will not be an issue within the organization, saying that all talks will just center on how the media will portray a certain situation.

"The issue isn't going to be player-to-player or coach-to-player. The circus is going to be what's portrayed in the media, but that's New York," Phelps said. "It's something you have to get used to playing there. I don't think there's going to be an issue between the players. He's going to want to come back and help them win a championship."

Rodriguez averaged just 88 games in his past three seasons with the Yankees due to injuries and suspensions. In 2013, the 39-year-old veteran averaged just .244 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs.

When he makes his return next season, Rodriguez will be in an unfamiliar territory as the Yankees announced that their former third baseman will be their designated hitter next season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced recently that Chase Headley will be their third baseman, admitting they do not know what to expect from Rodriguez next season.

"I have no idea what to expect with Alex; that's why we've acted accordingly," Cashman said of assigning Rodriguez as their designated hitter. "We're hoping for the best. By the time Opening Day rolls around, it will have been 18 months since his last at-bat. I don't know what to expect."

A person close to Rodriguez said, though, A-Rod is working hard in training as he is determined to win third base again next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not Cashman will give him a shot to dethrone Headley.

For the latest sports news, follow Latin Post Sports on Twitter.

FOR MORE MLB UPDATES, TRADE AND FREE AGENCY NEWS, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S SPORTS PAGE.

Related