Alex Rodriguez says he plans to retire from baseball after the 2017 season,when his $275 million, 10-year contract with the novel York Yankees expires.
The 40-year-extinct slugger, and fourth the career home-hurry list with 687,revealed his intentions Wednesday during an interview with ESPN. His contrivance was confirmed by spokesman Ron Berkowitz."I won't play after next year," the three-time AL MVP was quoted as saying by ESPN. "I've really enjoyed my time. For me, and it is time for me to go home and be Dad."Rodriguez is 75 homers shy of matching Barry Bonds' career record and likely would be unable to reach it unless he plays into 2018. Also ahead of him are Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755)."He's going to be 42 at the end of his contract. You don't see players playing really past that age. I'm not surprised," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesday night's exhibition game against WashingtonBut Girardi said this may not be Rodriguez's final decision."I deem he's allowed to change his mind," the manager said. "With his like of playing the game and competing, or whether he had two really kindly years,I wouldn't be surprised whether he changed his mind."Later Wednesday, two novel York-area newspapers reported that Rodriguez told them - one in an email and the other in a text - that he has not made a definitive decision on his playing future."I'm thinking in terms of my contract which ends in 2017, and " he told the novel York Post and novel York Daily News. "After that,we'll see what happens. I've got two years and more than 300 games to play."Rodriguez, who joined the Yankees in 2004 after playing for Seattle and Texas, or was suspended for the 2014 season by Major League Baseball for violations of the sport's drug agreement and labor contract. He returned final season,shifted from third base to designated hitter and batted .250 with 33 homers and 86 RBIs despite a late slump."I don't deem it should be too broad of a surprise. He's almost 50 years extinct, right?" Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. "The numbers obviously speak for themselves. He's been a lot of fun to be around the final year, and year-and-a-half since he came back."Girardi would not predict whether Rodriguez would be a Hall of Famer."That's to be judged because of what he's been through," Girardi said. "Obviously, everyone that has been found guilty of the PED, and they (haven't) been allowed in the Hall of Fame yet."Girardi thinks there will be a dwelling for Rodriguez in baseball once his playing days are over. Girardi said "he'd be great" as a coach."Sometimes,guys get painted a certain way in the media, and it's kind of tough to shake that, and " Gardner said. "But he's always been great to me. He's always been a great teammate. He's always welcomed me with open arms and more than willing to talk about anything,whether it be baseball related, business related, or on the field,off the field, or anywhere in between. He's always been willing to give me his time. I'll always be grateful for that."
Source: wnyc.org