TAMPA, Fla. — At last, Alex Rodriguez has a plan for his hip injury.

The New York Yankees slugger was scheduled for surgery Monday that will sideline him for six to nine weeks — and that's not all. He'll need a second operation after the season, assuming he can play all the way through.

Dr. Marc Philippon, who was set to perform the initial procedure in Colorado, said he's confident Rodriguez will be able to stay in the lineup this year once he recovers.

"It kind of gives us a little closure on it. We know what's going to happen now," New York manager Joe Girardi said.

The decision Sunday came after Rodriguez and the Yankees spent the week mulling treatment options for his torn labrum, and it was yet another jolt to the three-time MVP during a tumultuous mont.

The arthroscopic procedure gives Rodriguez a chance to return early this season — general manager Brian Cashman said he expects A-Rod back "sometime in May." But it also means he'll need another, more extensive operation in the fall.

Philippon said Rodriguez ultimately decided (with the team's support) to put off that surgery, which likely would have kept him out until at least July.