On Sunday, the Yankees announced Rodriguez would be unconditionally released after Friday night’s home game against the Rays, then sign a contract with the team as “a special adviser and instructor”, reporting directly to managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.
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The Yankees said Rodriguez in his new role will be assigned to work with various players at all levels of the farm system, including numerous club’s top prospects. He is a three-time MVP victor and 14-time All-Star, leading the American League in home runs five times. He has had just one start and seven at-bats in 14 games since July 22.
The Yankees still are technically alive in the wild-card chase but it’s clear the organization’s eye is on the future after trading Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova. He ranks only behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth on the league’s all-time home run list. “I love this game and I love this team”, an emotional Rodriguez told a Yankee Stadium news conference.
“It’s both a happy and sad day“, said Rodriguez, who was scheduled to hold a news conference at Yankee Stadium at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday. I’m sure the Yankees would prefer not to have the Fenway faithful jeer him. “You always think you have one more hit in you”.
“I’m not going to share those private conversations but I can tell you, I was incredibly humbled and flattered that he wanted me to spend time with the next generation of Yankees”. He was benched in the Twins-Yankees series finale in June, but hit.333 with at least one hit, eight total, in six games.
Over two decades, A-Rod has been paid about $410,000,000 to play baseball, according to data collected by Spotrac, a research service that tracks sports contracts. This year, A-Rod’s trips to the plate typically last a little under four pitches.
The Yankees signed Rodriguez, known as A-Rod, to a 10-year, $275 million contract that runs through 2017.
“It’s two completely different situations”, Gardner said when he was asked to compare Teixeira’s retirement to Rodriguez’s.
“We all want to keep playing forever”, Rodriguez said.
And if he did walk from the game sated without another spotlight turn, it would be consistent with the Rodriguez we’ve seen since his season-long drug suspension and the supposedly transformational psychotherapy he underwent.
In his remarks Sunday, Rodriguez said he’s “been to hell and back”.
Alex Rodriguez‘s career with the New York Yankees will always be filled with differing opinions.
“I’m looking forward to him impacting our younger players”, said GM Brian Cashman, specifically mentioning Class A Tampa infield prospects Jorge Mateo and Gleyber Torres. He was traded to the Yankees after the 2003 season and moved to third base, where Derek Jeter was already entrenched, and was a key part of New York’s World Series winning team in 2009. The Bambino had 714 home runs in his stellar career while it appears A-Rod will finish his career four home runs shy of 700 & fourth on the all-time Major League Baseball list.
“I think I can contribute”.
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“I saw some of the balls he hit over at Citi Field [during batting practice] within the last week or so, 480, 490 feet to left-center, and I know he can still hit”.
