“This is a tough day“, Rodriguez said during the press conference at Yankee Stadium.
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In an emotional press conference with team manager Joe Girardi, Rodriguez said, “Saying goodbye may be the hardest part of the job”.
A-Rod said “I’m not going to share” what occurred in his conversations with Steinbrenner, only saying “I was incredibly humbled and flattered” by the role offered. And for his part, Rodriguez never used the word “retire”.
I know that will be a tough thing for Rodriguez to resist – in conversations with him over the past month of his exile from the starting lineup, it was evident that reaching 700 home runs and beyond is a goal he would desperately like to achieve (he now sits at 696) – but if he answers that siren’s call, it will send a awful message to all of those who have been impressed by his personal transformation and moved by his emotional words at Sunday’s news conference. He has had just one start and seven at-bats in 14 games since July 22. Do you think he deserves a place in the Hall. “That wasn’t in the cards. I want to thank the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity and for making me part of this team and for giving me an opportunity to stay involved by mentoring the next generation of Yankees”.
Gardner said his fondest memory of Rodriguez would be “the 2009 World Series, and him putting us on his back and really stepping up and coming through in some big spots”. “But it doesn’t work that way”.
Even now, he still disagrees with the Yankees’ assessment of him: can’t hit for power or average, is too brittle to serve as a pinch-hitter and obviously can’t play in the field. He ranks only behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth on the league’s all-time home run list.
A-Rod said he’ll go home to Miami following Friday’s game, and he thought his new duties would begin in spring training.
The Yankees signed Rodriguez, known as A-Rod, to a 10-year, $275 million contract that runs through 2017.
“He gets everything he deserves, the contract he negotiated is in full force”.
Every. Last. Penny. Although maybe you want to confirm that with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.
“We’re going to look forward to him impacting our younger players”, general manager Brian Cashman said.
Earlier this week, Rodriguez talked about his future without detailing what it would entail.
“We all want to keep playing forever”, said a tearful Rodriguez on Sunday. “And, I haven’t thought much more than that”, he said. “I think I can help out in the clubhouse”, he added, “but if not, I have two lovely daughters waiting for me in Miami”.
The New York Yankees star previously announced plans to hang up his cleats and retire following the 2017 season, but on Sunday (07Aug16), the third baseman revealed he will bow out of the sport within days.
Originally acquired by the Yankees on February 16, 2004, from the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez has played 12 seasons for the club (2004-13, 2015-16), reaching the postseason nine times and winning the World Series in 2009.
Starting in 2008, Rodriguez made six trips to the disabled list in six seasons for a strained right quadriceps (2008), right hip surgery (2009), a strained left calf (2010), right knee surgery (2011), a broken left hand (2012) and left hip surgery (2013).
You could nearly sense the relief in Cashman’s comments during Sunday’s news conference, with several veiled digs at Rodriguez.
The end to Rodriguez’s career as a Yankees player is better than what many would have expected when he was forced to sit out the 2014 season due to a doping suspension.
“He’s always had some ups and downs, but he’s always gotten back up”, Cashman said.
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Though he hit 33 home runs last season, he has been very bad this year.
