He announced that he will play his final game Friday and then assume a position with the Yankees as a special adviser and instructor.
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In an interview with FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Rodriguez said the Yankees have agreed to start him at designated hitter on Friday. “I love this game and I love this team”. “But that’s what I’m doing today”. This is also a proud day. “I’ve never been more excited to lose a member of Major League Baseball in my entire life”. But it doesn’t work that way.
Consider that this legacy will not end the way it should, and whether it be good or bad with four home runs shy of 700, Alex Rodriguez will not be a part of Yankees history in that elite club. “Saying goodbye may be the hardest part of the job”. He’s started only once in 15 games since July 22. For his first seven years in the league, the Seattle Mariners paid Rodriguez a total of $13 million, which included a $1 million signing bonus for signing his contract as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1993.
Greg Bird, a 23-year-old who missed this season following shoulder surgery, is projected by the Yankees as Teixeira’s successor. A-Rod is owed $21 million by the Yankees this year, but since the season isn’t finished yet, he’s likely earned about $14.3 million so far. NY will pay him the remainder of the approximately $27 million he’s owed as part of his $275 million, 10-year contract. “We have an exciting group of talented young players at every level of our system”.
Steinbrenner added: “Baseball runs through his blood”. He’s a student of the game.
“You can’t play forever and we will all go through that”, he said.
The cheapest seats for the game were at around $61 Sunday night, a 281.25% increase since the pre-announcement so-called “get-in” price ($16). The terms of his departure will stun the baseball world.
“This is another way I can bring value to the franchise”, Rodriguez said. It’s been awkward, ” Rodriguez said. And his mark in each of his MVP seasons (2005, 2007) was exceeded in individual seasons by only Babe Ruth (nine times), Mickey Mantle (four), Lou Gehrig (three) and Rickey Henderson.
Slowed by injuries, the 36-year-old switch-hitting first baseman is batting.198 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs.
A-Rod is stuck on 696 home runs and described his last month essentially fastened to the bench as “very painful and embarrassing”. He was quickly finding himself moving up on the all-time hit list and all-time home run list.
Rodriguez announced his decision during a press conference on Sunday (Aug. 7, 2016) at Yankee Stadium.
A-Rod said he’ll go home to Miami following Friday’s game, and he thought his new duties would begin in spring training.
“I asked Hal for the opportunity to play one more game in front of our fans, my mother and my daughters”, A-Rod said. General manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi followed and both were grateful for his 12-years in pinstripes, one that was complicated and never lacked in drama. “And his baseball mind is unbelievable”, said Sabathia, who could see A-Rod fitting well into a broadcast booth, as he did during Fox’s postseason coverage last fall.
“As a kid growing up you see him on TV and then a couple of years later, here I am, playing with him outside”.
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“Alex is one of those guys that’s always working so he sets a great example for young players”.
