Everyone Should Enjoy the Last of Alex Rodriguez

Source: Leon Halip/Getty Images North America

On Wednesday afternoon, Yankees’ designated hitter Alex Rodriguez was quoted in an interview with ESPN.com stating that he will retire following the 2017 Major League Baseball season.

“I won’t play after next year,” Rodriguez said.” “I’ve really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be Dad.”

He later clarified his words in an interview with the NY Post and Daily News.

“I’m thinking in terms of my contract, which ends in 2017. After that, we’ll see what happens,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve got two years and more than 300 games to play.”

The news was somewhat shocking to baseball fans who quickly forgot that A-Rod will be 42 following the end of his contract in 2017. At 42, it really would not be surprising at all if Rodriguez decided to get off the roller coaster known as his what will then be 23 year career.

The career .297 hitter is under the Yankees control until 2017, the final year of his 10-year $275 million contract.

Rodriguez enters 2016 coming off a season in which he hit .250 with 33 home runs and 86 RBI in his first season after being suspended 162 games due to PED usage.

A-Rod has certainly had his ups and downs in Pinstripes, but baseball fans should most certainly enjoy his proclaimed final two seasons. The 14-time All-Star currently sits fourth amongst the all-time home run leaders with 687. He trails only, Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

Only 27 home runs behind Ruth, it is safe to say that Rodriguez was one of the best hitters of his generation, PED’s or not.

He is a player that is hated or loved. There is no in between. He has a knowledge for the game that is so strong that not even FOX could resist when he was brought in on National TV as an analyst in the 2015 playoffs.

Rodriguez was, and could still be considered a player that people pay to watch. Whether it is to boo him, scream at him, or cheer him, when No. 13 is announced over the microphone, everyone is watching no matter what, even you.