Appearing at camp in his capacity as a Yankees spring instructor, former star Alex Rodriguez told reports that he has no intentions of staging a comeback at 41 years of age. As Jack Curry of the YES Network was among those to report (links to Twitter), Rodriguez says he’s officially retire and won’t be looking to make a return to the majors.
We have heard strong suggestions of this before, of course, including a recent statement from Rodriguez’s spokesperson stating that Rodriguez did not intend to play in 2017. But this appears to be the first time that Rodriguez himself has spoken definitively on the matter, making clear that he has officially hung up his spikes and doesn’t intend to pull them back out of the locker.
Despite those prior indications, there have been persistent questions about whether Rodriguez might change his mind at some point — not least of which because he’s just four home runs shy of 700. He’d also have represented a low-cost signing, since the Yankees are still obligated for his $21MM salary this year. (That fact will remain unchanged.)
Rodriguez did note that several organizations reached out to him after he wrapped up his tenure with the Yankees in the middle of the 2016 season. He declined to provide details, but it seems there were opportunities with teams other than the Marlins — the only club that had been linked publicly to the veteran slugger. Though Rodriguez was a shell of his former self in 2016, he was quite productive the season prior. He might also have represented an intriguing gate attraction, and continues to draw plaudits for his baseball acumen even as his reputation has suffered due to his troubling history with PEDs.
With today’s news, it seems we can confidently put to bed any further questions of A-Rod’s future — except, perhaps, as they pertain to his candidacy for the Hall of Fame and non-playing pursuits. In addition to his role with the Yankees, the future extent of which remains to be seen, Rodriguez appears likely to enhance his presence as an analyst. Having previously worked the postseason coverage for FOX Sports, Rodriguez is now in talks to spend time in the YES Network booth, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. He’s also set to host a reality show on CNBC that will focus on retired athletes’ financial problems.
Good riddance!
Came here to say just that! As I’ve grown and matured as a baseball fan I’ve learned not to watch the game with hatred for any players or teams. A-Rod will always be the exception to that.
Hope he at least continues working as an analyst. Hate him or love him, he did a great job at that this year and last year.
Agreed. Surprised how much I actually liked him as an analyst
100% agreed! He has a future in the booth
Upon this reassuring announcement, let’s also remember Rodriguez is a terrible broadcaster. Retire from the booth, too? Are there steroids for broadcasters? Good riddance and stay gone, Alex.
He’s actually pretty good imo
I sec that! Actually very good!
How dare you guys argue with Vin Sulky!
Don’t know where you’re getting your facts from vinscully16 as most of what all us heard was that Alex was pretty good in the booth during the broadcasts he was participating in during the MLB playoffs.
Get off the trolling bub!
He might have been good but seeing his face just makes me angry. He represents the bad side of baseball and is a terrible representative for the sport.
That’s why ESPN will never sign him. He truly is a detriment to the sport
He was entertaining as a broadcaster as much as everyone couldn’t stand him he still did a good job
… not a fan. Rodriguez has a shakey voice for broadcasting and poor timing – limited insight and questionable capability of expressing same. Not entertaining. We have differing standards for broadcasters. Baseball broadcasting is as subjective as music – to each their own. Now that Vin has retired, best in the business? Kuiper & Krukow. Rocky7, thanks for the tip. Different opinions – you don’t mind, do you? Appreciated.
He Vin your right we all have opinions but you don’t have to say he’s terrible when he’s not just cause you don’t like him personally! And don’t compare Arod or anyone I’d say to Vin he’s one of a kind!!
This guy probably loves Hawk Harrrelson. I get it though some people love their McDonalds. Enjoy.
Lol! Misery in the booth. Hawk has to be the worst
What were you watching? He’s received virtually universal acclaim as an analyst. I think you’re the first to be against him.
Would love him as the Halos manager.
That makes one of us.
Seems like you’re trolling but what makes you think players would respect a liar and a cheater?
Players played for George Steinbrenner for decades, and he was a liar and a cheater.
Alex has great knowledge and understanding of the game. He also loves teaching, and watching players around him become better. He would make for a great manager one day.
He can at least give back to the game the same way McGwire has.
yep. Arod may have been a cheater, but he was also an extremely talented baseball player.
Not sure if you know who the Angels manger is, it’s Mike Scioscia. He is lifeless, slow, zero energy, zero personality, manages his bullpen horribly, does not allow players with personality on his club, and the game has passed him by years ago. A guy like Alex would be the complete opposite of a Mike Scioscia.
Better than that annoying Scleroderma or whatever his name is.
His name is Scioscia, by the way
Scleroderma?!?!?! I’m dying HAHAHA
THE HALOS manager???! really dude? I personally don’t want one of tthe most hated baseball players ever as my teams manager. Look at how Barry Bonds did… he got fired
after one year as a hitting coach!
That also isnt much of a shocker given Bonds track record of being an A-hole and hard to get along with.
Bonds was hated by pretty much everyone. The only people that hate A-Rod are fans that act like he did something personal to them. A-Rod is very well respected around baseball.
You’re only right if what you mean by “pretty much everyone” is the media. As far as I have ever heard, Bonds got along well with his teammates (except sometimes Jeff Kent) and was loved by the fans in the Bay Area. He did many charitable works, especially for kids. He was kind to me when I met him as a child. As far as I have heard, he did not kowtow to the media because he saw for himself the poor treatment his father, godfather and their contemporaries received from the media – he wasn’t going to grant interviews or be nice to reporters because of that and so he was painted as a jerk.
I really, really wanted to hate him as a commentator but I thought he was pretty good. Maybe it’s just that Pete Rose could make a cinder block with a chalk-drawn face look like a good commentator. But I thought he was good.
Spot on. A-Rod and Frank Thomas both seemed really insightful when they could get a word in over Pete’s incessant babbling.
I’m still completely baffled by that decision to have Rose there. Bad person, bad image for Fox, and an AWFUL broadcaster. Don’t understand it one bit.
The Pete Rose that was in the broadcast booth during the 2016 post season was not the Pete Rose of years past. Rose was as alert, sharp and insightful as anybody has ever been from the booth.. just as he was on the field during his playing days. However, when I watched him during 2016 postseason, he seemed like he had a recent stroke.
I heard he’s opening a juice bar.
Yankee for life: sign him to a 5 yr/ 175 mil deal, Yankees.
Nah. Let your Rangers do that.
Yeah. With your support give him the prince fielder contract. 1/4 the production, 2x the bravado. People in glass houses shouldn’t be so sarcastic, don’t you think. And your team has never won anything. At least a-rod can laugh in your face with his 2009 WS ring on his finger.
Sosa and ARod updates back to back!? Do something on Schilling next to complete my rage stroke please.
Yea Arod is a cheater he took roids, blah blah blah blah. But, he is still one of the best players in the history of the game and he’s a really good guy. All of his teammates loved him and he loves them and he’s a great mentor and just cuz u hate him doesn’t mean he is a bad broadcaster or analyst cuz TBH he’s better than half the people that do that stuff now.
Good. And stay out.
Stay Retire!
What a waste of talent. Cheater for life. As a player, he was a cancer on the sport, a reminder of greed, cheating, and being a baby about being caught. Good riddance.
How many times is this lowlife gonna tell us this?
As an Analyst he could be in the HoF someday. I’ve never heard from anyone the break downs he does in such a way that anyone gets what he is saying. His baseball knowledge is unreal.
Should have waiting one more year to collect that Yankee money
Why are the Yankees still responsible for the $21MM remaining on Alex Rodriguez’s contract? He has officially retired and not because of medical reasons.
In The Who gives a crap , he just wants his name in the press
I’ve never understood why A-ROD got suspended for using steroids. It’s like it’s cool to suspend him after they were illegal to use but he wasn’t using them anymore