Rumors have persisted for the past few days that perhaps Alex Rodriguez was not done playing in MLB after all. Some recent developments with the Miami Marlins only increased that notion, but official word was given on Monday that Rodriguez is indeed done, at least for 2016.
Ex-New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez played in his last MLB game on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. On Saturday, he was given his outright release from the Yankees. Rodriguez is currently a free agent, but according to his publicist, Rodriguez will not play again this season.
Rodriguez’s publicist, Ron Berkowitz, issued the following statement in an effort to put to rest the rumors that Rodriguez would play again this year:
"I want to put all this talk to rest about Alex Rodriguez playing for any team this season. It’s not happening. Like he said Friday night, he is happy and he is going to take some time to relax and hang with his family and friends."
There had been plenty of speculation that Rodriguez would return home to Florida, and perhaps join the Miami Marlins or Tampa Bay Rays. ESPN’s Buster Olney even mentioned two other teams he thought could be a fit for Rodriguez: the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros.
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The notion that Rodriguez would perhaps play again was only magnified by the Miami Marlins placing Giancarlo Stanton on the disabled list. Stanton is expected to miss the remainder of this season. The Marlins were already linked to Rodriguez before Stanton’s injury. Naturally, he would be linked to them after Miami loses their best offensive player. But Rodriguez won’t be taking his talents to South Beach, the Twin Cities, or anywhere else for that matter, at least right now.
The statement from Ron Berkowitz was short and sweet. It is all of three sentences. However, there is one bit of wording that stands out above the rest. Surely, Berkowitz saying Rodriguez won’t play for any team, “this season” is no accident. It absolutely leaves the door open for Rodriguez to play once again in 2017. Of course, it takes two to tango. If Rodriguez wants to play, that’s all well and good, but he’ll need a team to have interest, as well.
That remains to be seen.
A key component to remember when discussing Rodriguez’s future: He never formally retired. Was he forced out the door by the Yankees? Perhaps. Did he walk away on his own terms? That sure doesn’t seem to be the case. The Yankees, for their own reasons, wanted to rid themselves of Alex Rodriguez, the baseball player. Rodriguez does have an offer to join the franchise in an advisory role.
But if it was up to Rodriguez, would he actually walk away? The fact that, from his perspective, the door is open to play next season says the answer is no.
Rodriguez is 41. His final Yankees season did not go well. A-Rod hit .200/.247/.351 in 65 games this season. By most accounts, his playing days are over, and that’s the way it needs to stay. If a team — especially a small market team — signs Rodriguez next year, that would certainly draw headlines and it would be their prerogative. But there is a reason Rodriguez is taking the rest of this season off, and that same reason may keep him off the field next year. Rodriguez simply didn’t produce enough. And usually, when MLB players in their 40’s no longer produce, they retire.