After Sports Illustrated reported in 2009 that he failed a drug test in 2003, Rodriguez admitted to taking PEDs from 2001-2003, the first three seasons of his landmark 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
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The 40-year-old slugger, fourth on the career home-run list with 687, revealed his intentions Wednesday during an interview with ESPN. His spokesman, Ron Berkowitz, confirmed Rodriguez’s announcement.
Rodriguez will make $21 million in each of the next two seasons as he finishes up his 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees. “I saw him when I was with Anaheim when he got to the big leagues, and he loves the game, loves baseball and he’s a great player, and it’s been a joy watching him”.
New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium.
“If you know Alex the way I know him, and you know how much baseball means to him, you kind of have an inclination that he might play as long as his body is able to hold up”, said Mets’ hitting coach Kevin Long, who worked with Rodriguez on the Yankees.
“I’m thinking in terms of my contract, which ends in 2017”.
Next up is No.3, Babe Ruth’s 714, with No.2, Hank Aaron at 755.
It will be the end of a very successful but also controversy-filled career for Rodriguez, who missed the entire 2014 season due to a doping suspension. A-Rod found respite in 2015 with a stunning 33-homer comeback season that saw him reach the 3,000 hit plateau. A-Rod has two young daughters, Natasha, 11, and Ella, 7, with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis.
It also appears he will step away from the game before threatening the all-time home run record of 762, held by Barry Bonds. “To Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans, I can only say I’m sorry”.
“I wouldn’t say it’s confusing”, Rodriguez said.
Girardi thinks there will be a place for Rodriguez in baseball once his playing days are over. “He’s nearly 50 years old, right?”
“I’ll be managing, but I’ll be managing probably my girls’ team, volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club”, he said.
“Not only was I not the best catcher in the major leagues, I wasn’t even the best catcher on my street, ” Garagiola once remarked.
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Rodriguez will have made $420 million in career on-field earnings by the end of the 2017 season – the first professional athlete to pass the $400 million mark.
