The World Series is over, and so is Alex Rodriguez's suspension

The 2014 World Series came to an end on Wednesday night, and so did Alex Rodriguez's record 162-game suspension. MLB and the Yankees reinstated A-Rod off the restricted list on Thursday, so he now counts against the team's 40-man roster.

Rodriguez, 39, was originally suspended 211 games for this ties to Biogenesis last August, but he appealed the ban and got it knocked down to 162 games. He would not have been eligible to play in the postseason had the Yankees qualified.

Following the appeal ruling, 2014 was a very quiet year for Rodriguez. He was photographed at some college baseball and football games throughout the summer, but that's it. No controversy. Nothing like that. It was a quiet, A-Rod-less summer.

Last month we learned an insurance company has declared Rodriguez healthy and able to play in 2015. He has been working out in preparation of rejoining the Yankees, though the team has said they view him as a DH until he proves he can do more. That's smart.

Prior to the suspension, A-Rod missed the first half of the 2013 season due to left hip surgery. He had right hip surgery in 2009 and knee surgery in 2011. Rodriguez did not play at all in 2014 and was limited to 44 games at 2013.

Giving the long layoff, it's almost as if A-Rod is an ex-player who has decided to come out of retirement after two years and two hip surgeries. There's no possible way of knowing if he can help the Yankees in 2015, and, even if he can, exactly how much.

The Yankees still owe A-Rod $61 million through the 2017 season as part of the 10-year, $275 million deal he signed during the 2007-08 offseason. He is at 654 career home runs and will earn $6 million bonuses each for career homers 660, 714, 755, 762 and 763, should he get there.