After hours of speculation leading up to Sunday morning’s press conference, Alex Rodriguez finally shed some light on his future.
In a press release issued by the Yankees, it was announced that A-Rod will play in his final game on Aug. 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Stadium. Following the game, he will be unconditionally released from his player contract, allowing him to assume a role as a special instructor/advisor to the organization. The role will run through Dec. 31, 2017. A-Rod will still get paid the remaining $20M that he’s owed.
In the press release, Hal Steinbrenner had this to say:
After spending several days discussing this plan with Alex, I am pleased that he will remain a part of our organization moving forward and transition into a role in which I know he can flourish. 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. Alex has already proven to be a willing and effective mentor to many players who have come through our clubhouse, and I am confident that this next phase of his baseball life will bring out the best in Alex and the next generation of Yankees.
A-Rod became emotional as he began to speak. “This is a tough day,” he said. “I love this game. I love this team. And today I’m saying goodbye to both. 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 also thanked Steinbrenner for allowing him this opportunity to work with the younger players in the organization. “Hal, I’m grateful to you for the faith you’re showing in me today,” Rodriguez said.
After his final game on Friday, A-Rod will go home to Miami and start his new role with the Yankees next spring training. It’s been a difficult season for A-Rod, to say the least. He’s hitting .204/.252/.356 with nine homers and 29 RBI in 62 games, and has started just one game in the last two weeks. He’s currently four home runs shy of 700, and will be free to sign with any team after he’s released, although at the moment it appears Aug. 12 will be the final game of a 22-year career.
As a Yankee, A-Rod is sixth on the all-time list with 351 home runs, sixth with a .523 slg pct, fifth with a 15.9 ab/hr ratio, and 11th with 1,094 RBI.
