This wasn’t his decision.
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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked what Rodriguez’ legacy – given his PED history – will be. The terms of his departure will stun the baseball world.
The relationship between Rodriguez and the Yankees is not ending badly. He will be granted his unconditional release following Friday’s game vs. the Tampa Bay Rays before starting on his new duties in the Yankees farm system in Spring Training next year.
“After spending several days discussing this plan with Alex, I am pleased that he will remain a part of our organization moving forward and transition into a role in which I know he can flourish”, Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said Sunday.
An emotional Rodriguez told a Yankee Stadium news conference, “This is a tough day”. With the Yankees underwhelming results this season and their willingness to sell off pieces for the future, along with the retirements of A-Rod and Tex, the Yankees are headed for a new era. Rodriguez and the New York Yankees made the announcement Sunday before their game against Cleveland. The five-time Gold Glove victor has been with the Yankees since 2009.
When the fourth-place Yankees (56-55) jettisoned veterans Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran leading up to last week’s trade deadline, they made it clear they were turning toward a youth movement. “We all want to keep playing forever, but it doesn’t work that way”. “Obviously, there’s a shift”. He’s the Yankees’ designated hitter now. He’s hit nine home runs and has 29 RBIs in 216 at-bats. Overall, he is batting.204 with a.609 OPS, career lows by considerable margins.
The Yankees’ recent refusal to play him, Rodriguez said, made him “very uncomfortable”. “It was hard for me”, Rodriguez said. Major League Baseball said he used numerous performance-enhancing substances and then tried to “cover-up” his use by obstructing baseball’s investigation. “It was new territory, that’s for sure”.
“Of course, I think I can play baseball. But there’s no shame in falling 18 home runs short of Babe Ruth”.
After posting a productive.250/.356/.486 slash line with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs in 151 games a year ago, Rodriguez was expected to be an integral part of the lineup this season. “I thought I would have a strong finish and a stronger year next year, but again, that wasn’t in the cards”. But I also said that I was at first base. “Today, I’m saying goodbye to both. What I’m really happy about are the relationships I’ve been able to mend”. Girardi said Rodriguez could play in the field on Friday.
So, if another team offered him a chance to play, would he consider it?
“This is something I’m excited about, something that Hal and I spoke about”, Rodriguez said. By 1996, he was arguably the best young player in baseball.
“I’ve always said I’m a teacher at heart”.
Get free real-time news alerts from the New York City Patch. “We want to bring a world championship back to the fans of NY”.
Would he coach or manage?
Asked how he’s managed to fix his relationship with Yankees management, he smiled and said: “I have no idea”. “I have not thought about anyone else besides pinstripes. I’m 41. It’s pretty much all I’ve known”.
One of the most prolific hitters and polarizing figures in baseball history, the slumping slugger plans to take his final turn at-bat with the New York Yankees on Friday night and then become a special adviser and instructor with the team next year.
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Rodriguez has posted historic numbers over his career 22-year career (12 of those seasons coming with the Yankees). “You always think you have one more hit in you”, Rodriguez told reporters. I’m also going to learn a lot. “The great news is, I’m going to be in a role I think I’m going to enjoy”.
