A-Rod To Play Last Game Friday, Become Advisor To Yankees

Alex Rodriguez’s Yankees career will be remembered for both its highs and lows, and the veteran shortstop and third baseman’s news-making moments both on and off the field, positive and negative, will surely be forever sealed in New York fans’ minds for years to come.

A-Rod To Play Last Game Friday, Become Advisor To Yankees

All things must come to an end, nonetheless.

Rodriguez and the team announced on Sunday that the three-time Most Valuable Player will play his final Major League Baseball game on Friday, Aug. 12 against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Furthermore, Rodriguez will be unconditionally released from his player contract in order to serve as special advisor and instructor for the Yankees through Dec. 31, 2017.

He is retiring after a 22-year career, with the fourth-most homers in Major League history.

“This is a tough day. I love this game and I love this team, and today I’m saying goodbye to both,” Rodriguez, 41, said, choking back his emotions in front of a packed news conference attended by all of his teammates. “This is also a proud day. I was 18 when I broke into the big leagues. I never thought I could play for 22 years. At 18, I just wanted to make the team.”

Rodriguez added that it “was the Yankees’ decision” that he no longer be an active player, but that he was “at peace with it.” Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner suggested the role of advisor to Rodriguez last week. The veteran player said he was “incredibly humbled and flattered” by the offer.

“After spending several days discussing this plan with Alex, I am pleased that he will remain a great part of our organization moving forward and transition into a role in which I know he can flourish,” Steinbrenner said in a statement. “We have an exciting group of talented young players at every level of our system. Our job as an organization is to utilize every resource possible to allow them to reach their potential, and I expect Alex to directly contribute to their growth and success.”

“Baseball runs through his blood. He’s a tireless worker and an astute student of the game,” Steinbrenner then added.

As part of his release, Rodriguez will receive all of the approximately $27 million owed to him through the end of a 10-year contract he signed after the 2007 season.

General manager Brian Cashman said he would be free to sign with another club, although no club has yet called the Yankees to discuss interest in a potential trade for Rodriguez, who has hit 696 home runs, fourth all-time behind Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

When asked about the possibility of playing for another team, Rodriguez said, “I have not thought past the pinstripes.” Rodriguez can also pursue opportunities in the media, something he dabbled with during last year’s postseason to acclaim.

After returning from a historic drug suspension that ended up costing him all of the 2014 season, Rodriguez improbably repaired a litigious relationship with MLB and the Yankees to enjoy a resurgent 33-homer season in 2015. He has hit just .204/.252/.356 in 62 games this year, as his playing time has been drastically reduced.

Rodriguez last played in the Yankee’s 7-1 defeat to the Mets on Tuesday, flying out to end the game in his only plate appearance. He has nine homers this year, having last gone deep on July 18 off the Orioles’ Kevin Gausman. 

“The last four weeks have not been fun,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been very painful and embarrassing to sit on the bench. It’s been awful. So from that sense, I’m very happy that we found a solution.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he would confer with Rodriguez to plan out the next week. After Sunday’s series finale with the Indians (a 3-2 win), the Yankees travel to Boston for a three-game series that opens on Tuesday, then come home for Rodriguez’s final game on Friday.

“If he wants to play in every game, I’ll find a way,” Girardi said.

Rodriguez says he plans to return home to Miami following Friday’s game, then serve as a guest instructor next spring.

Acquired by the Yankees from the Rangers on Feb. 16, 2004, Rodriguez has hit 351 home runs for the Yankees, ranking sixth in the organization all-time, and won two MVP awards with New York. He ranks third in Major League history with 2,084 RBIs, eighth with 2,021 runs scored and 20th with 3,114 hits.

Asked to describe Rodriguez’s legacy with the organization, Cashman removed his 2009 World Series ring and rested it on the table in front of him.

“That doesn’t come along to this franchise’s trophy case without Alex’s contributions,” Cashman said.

Rodriguez is the only player to log 14 seasons of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs; stats would make Rodriguez a lock for Cooperstown, if not for his cloud of admitted performance-enhancing drug use.

“I do want to be remembered as someone who was madly in love with the game of baseball, someone who loves it at every level,” Rodriguez said. “Someone who loves to learn it, play it, teach it, coach it. And also, I’m going to be hopefully remembered as someone who tripped and fell a lot, but someone that kept getting up.”

In his remarks, Rodriguez thanked his mother and daughters for their love and support, as well as the Steinbrenner family for his many opportunities and for the faith that they are showing in him for the future.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 08: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees drives in a run as Carlos Perez #58 of the Los Angeles Angels defends at Yankee Stadium on June 8, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)