Editing Alex Rodriguez (section)

==Professional career==

===Draft and minor leagues===
The [[Seattle Mariners]] selected Rodriguez with the [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall selection]] of the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="b-r draft" /> The Mariners signed him to a three-year contract worth $1.3&nbsp;million, and a $1&nbsp;million [[signing bonus]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vecsey |first=David |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/sports/baseball/choosing-to-remember-rodriguez-as-an-18-year-old.html|title=Choosing to Remember Rodriguez as an 18-Year-Old|date=August 3, 2013|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2018 }}</ref>

===Seattle Mariners===
====1994–1995====
In 1994, Rodriguez made his professional baseball debut as a [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] player with the [[Appleton Foxes]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[Midwest League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Team History – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41061520|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> He was promoted to the [[Jacksonville Suns]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]]. He played in 17 games for Jacksonville, then was promoted to Calgary for 32 games before moving up to the major leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rodrig006ale|title=Alex Rodriguez Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=July 3, 2011|title=Five former Jacksonville Suns on All-Star Game rosters|url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/baseball/2011-07-03/story/five-former-jacksonville-suns-all-star-game-rosters|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[The Florida Times-Union]]}}</ref> On July 8, 1994, Rodriguez debuted in the major leagues as a starting shortstop, just the third 18-year-old major league shortstop since 1900.<ref name="b-r">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrial01.shtml |title=Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Edes|first=Gordon|date=June 23, 1996|title=Around The American League|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-06-23/sports/9606220258_1_mike-henneman-cruz-lousy-job|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429191633/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-06-23/sports/9606220258_1_mike-henneman-cruz-lousy-job|archive-date=April 29, 2014|access-date=April 29, 2014|website=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|publisher=}}</ref> He was also the first 18-year-old major league player since 1978 and the youngest position player in Seattle history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carson |first=Alex |title=MLB Power Rankings: The 50 Greatest Players in Seattle Mariners History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/587134-mlb-power-rankings-the-50-greatest-players-in-seattle-mariners-history |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> He remains the last 18-year-old to play in an MLB game, as of the end of the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Youngest |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/Youngest_leagues.shtml |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez recorded his first major league hit when he singled off of [[Sergio Valdez]] on July 9 at [[Fenway Park]].<ref name="b-r first hit">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199407090.shtml|title=July 9, 1994 Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> Rodriguez played in 17 games for the Mariners, compiling a .204 batting average, two RBIs, and three stolen bases. In August, The Mariners [[option (baseball)|optioned]] Rodriguez to the [[Calgary Cannons]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL).<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Wayne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrX1RfqAJo8C|title=Alex Rodriguez: A Biography|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|isbn=9780313339752|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Glew|first=Kevin|date=October 19, 2012|title=CBN: Looking back on A-Rod's Calgary days|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/alex-rodriguez-memories-from-calgary-days/|access-date=October 19, 2012|website=[[Sportsnet]]}}</ref> In 32 games for Calgary, he had 37 hits in 119 at-bats for a .311 batting average. He also compiled six home runs and 21 RBIs.<ref name="b-r minors">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rodrig006ale |title=Alex Rodriguez Minor League Statistics and History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Alex Rodriguez Cannons 1.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Rodriguez batting for the [[Calgary Cannons]] in 1994]]
Rodriguez split most of the 1995 season between the Mariners and the [[Tacoma Rainiers]] of the PCL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rockne |first=Dick |date=April 24, 1996 |title=Hard-Working Rodriguez Could Be No. 1 Wunderkind {{!}} The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960424/2325739/hard-working-rodriguez-could-be-no-1-wunderkind |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Corey |title=Rodriguez Has No Doubt He Should Stay In Seattle |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/jun/15/rodriguez-has-no-doubt-he-should-stay-in-seattle/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 15, 1995 |agency=The News Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Alan |title=Alex Rodríguez |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/alex-rodriguez/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He hit his first major league home run off Kansas City's [[Tom Gordon]] on June 12. Rodriguez permanently joined the Mariners roster in August and got his first taste of postseason play, albeit just two at-bats. Again, he was the youngest player in Major League Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1995-other-leaders.shtml |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> During the 1995 season, Rodriguez played 48 games for Seattle, batting .232 with five home runs, 19 RBI, and four stolen bases.<ref name="b-r" />

====1996–1997====
The following year, Rodriguez took over as the Mariners' regular [[shortstop]] and had his breakout season. He led the [[American League]] (AL) with a .358 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], the highest for an AL right-handed batter since [[Joe DiMaggio]] hit .381 in 1939 and the third-highest ever for a shortstop. He also had 36 home runs with 123 RBIs.<ref name="ap081216">{{cite news|last=Fusaro|first=Nick|date=August 12, 2016|title=Unlike Jeter, A-Rod leaves Yankees without fans' love|url=http://news10.com/2016/08/12/unlike-jeter-a-rod-leaves-yankees-without-fans-love/|access-date=August 12, 2016|work=[[WTEN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> At 21 years and one month, he was the 3rd youngest AL batting leader ever behind [[Al Kaline]] (20) in 1955 and [[Ty Cobb]] (20) in 1907, and the third-youngest player in history with 35+ homers. He was also the first major league shortstop to win a [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting title]] since 1960, and the first in the AL since 1944. At age 20 years, 11 months, he was the youngest shortstop in [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] history. He also led the AL in runs (141), total bases (379), and [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (54) and ranked among the league leaders in base hits (second, 215), extra-base hits (second, 91), multi-hit games (third, 65), slugging (fourth, .631), RBI (eighth, 123), and on-base percentage (eighth, .414). Rodriguez posted the highest totals ever for a shortstop in runs, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, and slugging, and tied most total bases, and established Seattle club records for average, runs, hits, doubles, and total bases, in a season that statistical analysts consider the best ever by a shortstop.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sheehan|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Sheehan|date=September 7, 2001|title=Aurilia makes sure Giants aren't one-man show|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/bp/1249068.html|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

The ''[[Sporting News]]'' and [[Associated Press]] selected Rodriguez as their Major League Player of the Year. He finished second to [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]] in balloting for the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]]. He finished three points behind González (290–287), matching the second closest AL MVP voting in history.<ref name="b-r 96 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml |title=1996 Awards Voting |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 1997, Rodriguez batted .300 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs. He [[hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] on June 5, becoming the second Mariner, and at 21 years, 10 months, the fifth-youngest player in history, to accomplish the feat.<ref name="b-r cycle">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET199706050.shtml |title=June 5, 1997 Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> He was the fan's choice to start the [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] at shortstop for the AL team, becoming the first player other than Ripken to start at shortstop in 13 years. It was the first All-Star start of his career and his second All-Star Game in two years.<ref name="b-r 97 All-Star">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1997-other-leaders.shtml |title=1997 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

====1998–2000====
Rodriguez rebounded in 1998, when he set the AL record for homers by a shortstop and became just the third member of the [[40–40 club]], (with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases) and one of just 3 shortstops in history to hit 40 home runs in a season. His 43.9 [[Power-speed number]] was, through at least 2008, the highest single season Power/Speed Number ever.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Power-Speed #|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/power_speed_number_leagues.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814001336/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/power_speed_number_leagues.shtml|archive-date=August 14, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> He was selected as Players Choice AL Player of the Year,<ref name="player's choice">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_plch.shtml|title=Players Choice Awards|website=[[Baseball Almanac]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> won his second [[Silver Slugger Award]],<ref name="b-r 98 Silver Slugger">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1998-other-leaders.shtml|title=1998 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> and finished ninth in the MVP voting.<ref name="b-r 98 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml|title=1998 Awards Voting|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 1999, Rodriguez had a .310 average, 42 home runs, and 111 RBIs,<ref name="b-r" /> despite missing over 30 games with an injury and playing the second half of the season at [[Safeco Field]],<ref name="Safeco open">{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9565|last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |title=Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners' long-sought stadium, opens on July 15, 1999 |date=September 11, 2010 |website=[[HistoryLink.org]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> a considerably less hitter-friendly ballpark than the [[Kingdome]].<ref name="sea park factors">{{cite web|title=Seattle Mariners – Stadium|url=http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Sea/#analysis|access-date=March 12, 2014|website=Baseball-Statistics.com|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618212834/http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Sea/#analysis|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, he was the youngest-ever player to record 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases, at 23 years and 309 days of age.<ref name=alden/> In April 2015, [[Mike Trout]] reached the same milestone at 23 years and 253 days old.<ref name=alden>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/angels-outfielder-mike-trout-smashes-100th-career-home-run/c-118949336|title=Trout goes deep; youngest to 100 HRs, 100 SBs|first=Alden|last=Gonzalez|date=April 18, 2015|access-date=April 18, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418110737/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/118949336/angels-outfielder-mike-trout-smashes-100th-career-home-run|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rodriguez entered 2000 as the cornerstone player of the Mariners franchise,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-03-19 |title=Mariners' Rodriguez plans to take charge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-mariners-rodrigue/148786070/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=[[Portland Press Herald]] |pages=6D |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> which had recently traded superstars [[Randy Johnson]] and [[Ken Griffey Jr.]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|date=April 27, 2001|title=Retooled Mariners building a winner|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2001/04/27/retooled-mariners-building-a-winner/|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=}}</ref> Rodriguez put up great numbers, hitting 41 home runs with 132 RBIs and a .316 batting average.<ref name="b-r" /> He set a career high for [[Base on balls|walks]] (100) and became the only shortstop to have 100 runs, RBI, and walks in the same season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hartnett|first=Sean|date=August 2, 2013|title=Hartnett: A-Rod Could Have Been King, Instead Leaves Behind Shattered Legacy|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/02/hartnett-a-rod-could-have-been-king-instead-leaves-behind-shattered-legacy/|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[CBS New York]]|publisher=}}</ref> He hit well in the playoffs as well (.409 batting average and .773 slugging percentage),<ref name="b-r" /> but Seattle lost to the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[2000 American League Championship Series]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd|first=Kevin|date=July 24, 2012|title=For the Seattle Mariners, it's the end of the Ichiro Era|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2012/07/24/for-the-seattle-mariners-its-the-end-of-the-ichiro-era/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727013419/http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2012/07/24/for-the-seattle-mariners-its-the-end-of-the-ichiro-era/|archive-date=July 27, 2012|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|publisher=}}</ref> He was selected as the Major League Player of the Year by ''[[Baseball America]]'' and finished third in the AL MVP voting.<ref name="b-r 2000 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2000.shtml|title=2000 Awards Voting|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers===
Rodriguez became a [[free agent]] after the 2000 season. He eventually signed with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], who had fallen to last place in their division in 2000. The contract was at the time the most lucrative contract in sports history: a 10-year deal worth $252&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|252|2000}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). The deal was worth $63&nbsp;million more than the second-richest baseball deal.<ref name="ARodRangers">{{cite news|author=Reid|first=Jason|date=December 12, 2000|title=Texas-Sized Deal|periodical=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-12-sp-64536-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204025804/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/12/sports/sp-64536|archive-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> The contract was highly criticized, because it tied up valuable payroll space that could have been spent to improve other areas, such as pitching.<ref>{{cite book|last=Coppedge|first=Clay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_iozvgAACAAJ|title=Texas Baseball: A Lone Star Diamond History from Town Teams to the Big Leagues|publisher=[[The History Press]]|year=2012|isbn=9781609495985|page=151}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Engel|first=Jen Floyd|date=July 29, 2013|title=Mega-deal doomed A-Rod from start|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/alex-rodriguez-downfall-began-with-252-million-texas-rangers-contract-072913|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801164158/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/alex-rodriguez-downfall-began-with-252-million-texas-rangers-contract-072913|archive-date=August 1, 2013|access-date=April 27, 2014|work=[[Fox Sports]]}}</ref> [[Dave McNally]], one of the players who had successfully challenged the reserve clause in the 1970s to create free agency in baseball, said, "My first thought when I saw [reports that Rodriguez had signed] was: Did Texas offer him $250 million and he wanted two more? How did they get to $252 million?"<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=December 3, 2002|title=Dave McNally, 60, early free agent, dies|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/03/sports/dave-mcnally-60-early-free-agent-dies.html|access-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>

In an interview eight years later, Rodriguez said he regretted signing with the Texas Rangers and wished he had signed with the [[New York Mets]] instead, and that he had heeded the advice of his agent, [[Scott Boras]]. (See [[Alex Rodriguez#Opt-out controversy|Opt out controversy]].)<ref>{{cite news|last=Harper|first=John|date=March 24, 2008|title=A-Rod regrets saying no to Mets, doesn't make same mistake with Yankees|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York City|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/a-rod-regrets-no-mets-doesn-mistake-yankees-article-1.286061|access-date=August 18, 2012}}</ref>

====2001–2002====
Rodriguez's power-hitting numbers improved with his move to the Texas Rangers. In his first season there, Rodriguez produced one of the top offensive seasons ever for a shortstop, leading the American League with 52 home runs, 133 runs scored, and 393 total bases.<ref name="b-r" /> He became the first player since 1932 with 50 homers and 200 hits in a season, the third shortstop to ever lead the league in homers, and the second AL player in the last 34 seasons (beginning 1968) to lead the league in runs, homers, and total bases; his total base figure is the most ever for a major league shortstop. His 52 homers made him the sixth youngest to ever reach 50 homers and were the highest total ever by a shortstop, surpassing [[Ernie Banks]]' record of 47 in 1958, and also the most ever for an infielder other than a first baseman, breaking Phillies 3B [[Mike Schmidt]]'s mark of 48 in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_season.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620135024/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_season.shtml|archive-date=June 20, 2007|access-date=July 20, 2007|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> It was his fifth 30-homer campaign, tying Banks for most ever by a shortstop. He also tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (87) and ranked third in RBIs (135) and slugging (.622). He was also among the AL leaders in hits (fourth, 201), average (seventh, .318), and on-base percentage (eighth, .399). He established Rangers club records for homers, runs, total bases, and [[hit by pitch]]es, had the second-most extra-base hits, and the fourth-highest RBI total. He led the club in runs, hits, doubles (34), homers, RBI, slugging, and on-base percentage and was second in walks (75), stolen bases (18), and game-winning RBI (14) while posting career highs for homers, RBI, and total bases. Rodriguez started 161 games at shortstop and one as the [[Designated hitter|DH]], the only major league player to start all of his team's games in 2001.

Rodriguez followed the previous year with a major league-best 57 home runs, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases in 2002,<ref name="b-r" /> becoming the first player to lead the majors in all three categories since 1984. His nine home runs in April matched a team record that was shared (through 2008) with [[Iván Rodríguez]] (2000), [[Carl Everett]] (2003), and [[Ian Kinsler]] (2007). He had the sixth-most home runs in AL history, the most since [[Roger Maris]]' league record 61 in 1961 and the most ever for a shortstop for the second straight year. He won the [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]] for leading MLB in homers that season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sanchez|first=Jesse|date=May 23, 2003|title=Notes: Strength in the message|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030523&content_id=334171&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|url-status=dead|access-date=November 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114070315/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030523&content_id=334171&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|archive-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> He also won his first [[Gold Glove Award]], awarded for outstanding defense.

His 109 home runs in 2001–02 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons. However, the Rangers finished last in the [[American League West|AL Western division]] in both years. He finished second in the MVP balloting to fellow shortstop [[Miguel Tejada]], whose 103-win [[Oakland Athletics]] won the same division.<ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2002.shtml|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

====2003====
The 2003 season was Rodriguez's last year with the Rangers. He led the American League in home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage, and won his second consecutive [[Gold Glove|Gold Glove Award]]. He also led the league in fewest at-bats per home run (12.9) and became the youngest player to hit 300 homers. He was tied with [[Jim Thome]] for the MLB lead in homers, and he won his second Babe Ruth Home Run Award.<ref name="morrissey">{{cite news|last=Morrissey|first=Michael|date=June 6, 2004|title=Hospital ward in Bronx|page=50|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/06/hospital-ward-in-bronx/|access-date=November 8, 2011|quote=Before the game, Rodriguez received the Babe Ruth Award (for most homers in the majors last season) from Ruth's daughter and grandson.}}</ref><ref name="baberuthcentral">At the following webpage, '''''scroll down to''''' "The Babe Ruth Homerun Award". {{cite web|title=06 Fan Stories: Ultimate Babe Ruth Fans|url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/#HomeRun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915121619/http://baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/|archive-date=September 15, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2011|website=Babe Ruth Central|publisher=}}</ref>

Following five top-10 finishes in the AL MVP voting between 1996 and 2002, Rodriguez won his first MVP trophy. Rodriguez, a two-time runner up in the balloting by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]], joined outfielder [[Andre Dawson]] from the 1987 [[Chicago Cubs]] as the only players to play on last-place teams and win the award.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Perry|first=Dayn|date=November 17, 2016|title=Making the MVP case for Mike Trout and great players on bad teams|language=en|work=[[CBS Sports]]|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/making-the-mvp-case-for-mike-trout-and-great-players-on-bad-teams/|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>

Following the 2003 season, Texas set out to part ways with Rodriguez and his expensive contract. The Rangers initially agreed to a trade with the [[Boston Red Sox]], sending Rodriguez to Boston for [[Manny Ramirez]], 19-year old pitching prospect [[Jon Lester]], and cash considerations. However, the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]] vetoed the deal because it called for a voluntary reduction in salary by Rodriguez.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Jaffe|first=Jay|date=August 9, 2016|title=What if Alex Rodriguez had been traded to Boston?|language=en|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/08/09/alex-rodriguez-trade-red-sox-yankees-alternate-history|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> Despite the failed deal with the Red Sox, the Rangers named him [[captain (baseball)|team captain]] during that off-season.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 25, 2004|title=A-Rod: 'I feel a grand responsibility'|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1718315|access-date=December 9, 2017|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===New York Yankees===
[[File:Alex Rodriguez 2008-05-28.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Rodriguez took over at third base after he was traded to the Yankees in 2004.]]
Yankees third baseman [[Aaron Boone]] suffered a knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball that sidelined him for the entire 2004 season, creating a hole at third base.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 27, 2004|title=Yankees' Boone Is Injured|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-27-sp-newswire27-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On February 15, 2004, the Rangers traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for second baseman [[Alfonso Soriano]] and a player to be named later ([[Joaquín Árias (baseball)|Joaquín Árias]] was sent to the Rangers on March 24). The Rangers also agreed to pay $67&nbsp;million of the $179&nbsp;million left on Rodriguez's contract. Rodriguez agreed to switch positions from shortstop to third base, paving the way for the trade, because the popular [[Derek Jeter]] was already entrenched at shortstop. This was only the second time in MLB history that a reigning MVP was traded, with the first coming in 1914 when [[Eddie Collins]] was traded to the [[Chicago White Sox]] from the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Townsend|first1=Mark|date=November 16, 2017|title=How Giancarlo Stanton could join Alex Rodriguez in unique MVP category|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/giancarlo-stanton-first-mvp-immediately-traded-since-rod-012854010.html|access-date=November 17, 2017|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=}}</ref> Rodriguez also had to switch uniform numbers; he had worn 3 his entire career, but the number was retired by the Yankees in honor of [[Babe Ruth]]. Instead, Rodriguez chose to change his number to 13, in honor of [[Miami Dolphins]] quarterback [[Dan Marino]]. A Miami native himself, Rodriguez had grown up watching Marino and also wore number 13 when he played quarterback in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-a-rod-nfl-s-marino-legends-in-miami-c169449928|title=Yankees' A-Rod, NFL's Marino legends in Miami|first= Alfred  |last=Santasiere III|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2020|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

====2004====
During his first season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .286 with 36 home runs, 106 RBIs, 112 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.<ref name="b-r" /> He became one of only three players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in seven consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. The 112 runs marked the ninth straight season in which he scored at least 100 runs, the longest such streak in the Major Leagues since [[Hank Aaron]] did it in 13 straight seasons from 1955 to 1967, and the longest in the American League since [[Mickey Mantle]] did it also in nine straight seasons from 1953 to 1961. During the 2004 season, he also became the youngest player ever to reach 350 home runs and the third youngest to reach 1,000 RBIs. He was elected to the 2004 American League All-Star Team, the eighth All-Star selection of his career and the first as a [[third baseman]]. On July 24, 2004, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch from [[Bronson Arroyo]], which led to a scuffle with [[Boston Red Sox]] catcher [[Jason Varitek]], and a bench-clearing brawl between both teams. On defense, he had the lowest range factor among non-[[platoon system|platoon]] AL third basemen (2.39) in his first year at the position.<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 3b – 2004|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/year/2004/position/3b/league/al/sort/rangeFactor/order/true|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> He finished 14th in balloting for the AL MVP Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

In the 2004 [[American League Division Series|ALDS]], Rodriguez was a dominant hitter against the [[Minnesota Twins]], batting .421 and slugging .737 while delivering two key extra-inning hits. Following the series win, Rodriguez's first season with the Yankees culminated in a dramatic playoff series against the team he had almost ended up playing for: the Yankees' bitter [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|rival]], the [[Boston Red Sox]]. In that series (ALCS) he equaled the single-game post-season record with five runs scored in Game 3 at Boston.

One of the most controversial plays of Rodriguez's career occurred late in Game 6 of the [[2004 American League Championship Series]]. With one out and [[Derek Jeter]] on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Rodriguez hit a slow roller between the pitcher's mound and the first-base line. Red Sox [[pitcher]] [[Bronson Arroyo]] fielded the ball and ran towards Rodriguez to apply a tag. As Arroyo reached towards him, Rodriguez swatted at his glove, knocking the ball loose. As the ball rolled away, Jeter scored all the way from first as Rodriguez took second on the play, which was initially ruled an error on Arroyo. However, the umpires quickly huddled, then ruled that Rodriguez was out for interference. Jeter was sent back to first base, and his run was nullified.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swan|first=Lisa|date=October 19, 2004|title=Greatest Moments at Yankee Stadium|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/the_greatest/notsogreat-a-rod-slap-play.html|url-status=dead|access-date=August 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723142910/http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/the_greatest/notsogreat-a-rod-slap-play.html|archive-date=July 23, 2010}}</ref> The Yankees would then lose the ALCS to the eventual [[2004 World Series|World Series]] champion Red Sox after leading the series three games to none.

====2005–2006====
In 2005, Rodriguez hit .321, leading the American League with 124 runs and 48 home runs while driving in 130 runs.<ref name="b-r" /> He became the first Yankee to win the American League home run title since [[Reggie Jackson]] (41) in 1980. He also became one of only two players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in eight consecutive seasons (Jimmie Foxx accomplished the feat in nine straight seasons from 1932 to 1940). Rodriguez established the franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a right-handed batter (broke [[Joe DiMaggio]]'s mark of 46 in 1937). His 47 home runs from the third base position are a single-season American League record. Rodriguez hit 26 home runs at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in 2005, establishing the single-season club record for right-handed batters (previously held by DiMaggio in 1937 and [[Gary Sheffield]] in 2004). On June 8, at 29 years, 316 days old, he became the youngest player in MLB history to reach the 400 home run mark. 2005 also marked the tenth straight season that Rodriguez scored at least 100 runs. On defense, however, he had the lowest range factor in the league at third for the second straight season (2.62).<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 3b – 2005|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/year/2005/position/3b/league/al/sort/rangeFactor/order/true|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

On April 26, Rodriguez hit three home runs off [[2005 Los Angeles Angels season|Angels]] pitcher [[Bartolo Colón]] and drove in 10 runs. The 10 RBIs were the most by a Yankee since [[Tony Lazzeri]] established the franchise and American League record with 11 on May 24, 1936. Rodriguez became the 11th major leaguer to accomplish the feat.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 26, 2005|title=A-Rod is just 11th big-leaguer with 10 or more RBI in one game|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250426110|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113202952/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250426110|archive-date=November 13, 2012|access-date=January 30, 2019|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez won his second [[American League MVP|AL MVP]] Award in three seasons, becoming the fifth player to win this award with two different teams, joining [[Mickey Cochrane]], Jimmie Foxx, [[Frank Robinson]] and Barry Bonds. He also became the first AL player from outside the [[American League West]] to win the award since [[Mo Vaughn]] of the [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] won in 1995. Rodriguez was also named the shortstop on the Major League Baseball [[Latino Legends Team]] in 2005.

[[File:Alex Rodriguez Talking.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Rodriguez reacting to a called strike in a game against Tampa Bay]]
Prior to the season, Rodriguez opted to play for [[United States national baseball team|Team USA]] in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic]].<ref name=espn20060107>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2295141 |title=A-Rod will play for U.S. in World Baseball Classic |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 17, 2006 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

Rodriguez was again an [[2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in 2006. His 2,000th hit, on July 21, 2006 − six days prior to his 31st birthday − was also his 450th home run. Rodriguez became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 450 home runs (surpassing [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], by 267 days), and the eighth player to reach 2,000 hits before turning 31. [[Ty Cobb]] reached the mark while still 29, while [[Rogers Hornsby]], [[Mel Ott]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Joe Medwick]], Jimmie Foxx, and [[Robin Yount]] all achieved their 2,000th hit at age 30. All seven are members of baseball's [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]].

For the season, Rodriguez finished fourth in the league in RBI (121), fifth in runs scored (113), eighth in home runs (35) and walks (90), and ninth in OBP (.392). He also led all AL third basemen in errors, with 24, and had the lowest fielding percentage (.937) and—for the third straight season—range factor (2.50) among them.<ref name="b-r" /> Rodriguez also became the second player in Major League history to record at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in nine consecutive seasons, joining Foxx. It was Rodriguez's 11th consecutive season with more than 100 runs scored, the longest such streak in American League history since [[Lou Gehrig]] did so in 13 straight seasons (1926–38). Despite this success, it was perceived as one of his lesser-accomplished seasons and was harshly criticized throughout the 2006 season. He has commented that 2006 was his most difficult season as a professional.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=November 16, 2006|title=Rodriguez says he's committed to Yankees|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/sports/baseball/16arod.html|access-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref>

====2007====
When Rodriguez reported to camp in 2007, he had reduced his [[body fat]] from 16% the year before to 9%. He made light of this fact during a ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' sketch that was filmed during Spring training, which featured him shirtless being rubbed down with suntan lotion. He revealed to the press that he and Jeter were no longer close friends.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 20, 2007|title=A-Rod: friendship with Jeter has cooled|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17227890|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101034524/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17227890|archive-date=November 1, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[NBC Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Rodriguez also reduced his high leg kick at the plate, increasing his bat speed, making him less-apt to strike out and a more dangerous hitter.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=April 23, 2007|title=Fun while it lasts|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/04/23/scoop.monday/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427211846/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/04/23/scoop.monday/index.html|archive-date=April 27, 2007|access-date=April 27, 2007|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref>

In the Yankees' fourth game of the season, Rodriguez hit two home runs against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], including his 14th-career [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] to end the game. The [[walk-off home run|walk-off]] grand slam was the third of his career, tying the major league mark for game-ending grand slams shared by [[Vern Stephens]] and [[Cy Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=April 7, 2007|title=A-Rod rescues Yanks|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070407&content_id=1884768&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409021943/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070407&content_id=1884768&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=April 9, 2007|access-date=April 9, 2007|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=April 7, 2007|title=A-Rod blasts two homers, has six RBIs in Yankees win|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270407110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423165400/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270407110|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2007|access-date=April 7, 2007}}</ref> Rodriguez also began the season by becoming the ninth major leaguer—and first Yankee—to hit six home runs in the first seven games of the season. Rodriguez also became the first Yankee to hit seven home runs in the first ten games of the season.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 10, 2007|title=A-Rod sets tone early with sixth homer of season|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270410109|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526225511/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270410109|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 26, 2012|access-date=April 10, 2007}}</ref>

On April 23, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to hit 14 home runs in a span of 18 games, and also tied the MLB record for most home runs in April. His total of 34 RBIs in April was one short of [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]]'s AL and MLB record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/news/story?id=5188282|title=New York 500 Club: Alex Rodriguez|work=ESPN.com|date=May 15, 2010|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref> In a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 30, Rodriguez sparked controversy when he shouted during a routine play and an infielder let a pop fly drop, costing the Blue Jays three runs. The Yankees went on to win the game, 10–5.<ref>{{cite news|last=Picker|first=David|date=July 17, 2007|title=Rodriguez's Shouts Are History to Toronto|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/sports/baseball/17jays.html|access-date=May 30, 2010}}</ref> On July 12, Rodriguez hit his 150th career home run in a Yankees uniform. This made him the first, and so far only, player in major league history to ever hit 150 home runs for three different teams.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 5, 2010|title=A-Rod's homers blaze trail across baseball|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=13058148&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20100805|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184441/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=13058148&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20100805|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=August 18, 2012|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He became the third player to hit at least 100 home runs for three teams, following [[Reggie Jackson]] and [[Darrell Evans]].<ref>{{cite web|date=May 8, 2014|title=Rangers' Adrian Beltre Becomes 5th Player to Hit 100 Home Runs with 3 Teams|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2055966-rangers-adrian-beltre-becomes-5th-player-to-hit-100-home-runs-with-3-teams|access-date=December 1, 2018|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run against pitcher [[Kyle Davies (baseball)|Kyle Davies]] of the [[Kansas City Royals]] on August 4. Rodriguez became the youngest player ever to [[500 home run club|reach 500 home runs]] at 32 years, 8 days.<ref name="youngest500">{{cite news|date=August 4, 2007|title=Rodriguez becomes youngest in baseball history to hit 500 home runs|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/mlb/id/2961185|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309175625/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/mlb/id/2961185|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> He surpassed the nearly 67-year record held by [[Jimmie Foxx]], who hit his 500th home run at 32 years, 338 days during the final week of the 1940 major league baseball season.<ref name="youngest500"/> On September 25, Rodriguez became the fifth Major League player to record a 50-home run, 150-RBI season when he hit a grand slam.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 5, 2007|title=A-Rod Hits 500th HR As Yanks Beat Royals|url=http://channels.isp.netscape.com/sports/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-2011&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20070805%2F1015972261.htm&sc=2011&floc=NI-sp2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110184335/http://channels.isp.netscape.com/sports/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-2011&idq=%2Fff%2Fstory%2F0001%2F20070805%2F1015972261.htm&sc=2011&floc=NI-sp2|archive-date=January 10, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=Netscape Sports|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> As of {{currentyear}}, Rodriguez is the most recent player to have recorded at least 150 RBIs in one season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Runs Batted In|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/RBI_leagues.shtml|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

[[File:A-Rod3.jpg|thumb|right|Rodriguez batting in 2007]]
In 2007, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in 10 consecutive seasons, surpassing Jimmie Foxx (nine consecutive seasons). He led the AL in home runs (54), RBIs (156), slugging percentage (.645), [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (1.067), total bases (376), and times on base (299), and was second in hit by pitch (21), extra-base hits (85), and at bats per home run (10.8), fourth in on-base percentage (.422) and sacrifice flies (9), seventh in walks (95) and plate appearances (708), eighth in intentional walks (11), and ninth in games (158).<ref name="b-r" /> He led MLB in home runs and won his third Babe Ruth Home Run Award.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 21, 2008|title=Giese Error Leads To Four-Run Seventh As Reds Blank Yanks|work=[[WPXI]]|publisher=[[The Sports Network (wire service)|The Sports Network]]|url=http://www.wpxi.com/mlb/16674416/detail.html|url-status=dead|access-date=November 8, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20111108215938/http://www.wpxi.com/mlb/16674416/detail.html|archive-date=November 8, 2011}}</ref>

After the season, Rodriguez was named the AL MVP for the third time in his career, receiving 26 first-place votes out of a possible 28.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 19, 2007|title=A-Rod wins third MVP but denied unanimous selection|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3119020|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He also won the Silver Slugger Award for his position,<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB – awards|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616041016/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa|archive-date=June 16, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[Yahoo!]]|publisher=}}</ref> the Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Player, and the Players Choice Award for Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109113047/https://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071027&content_id=2284247&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp|url=https://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071027&content_id=2284247&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp|title=A-Rod, Hunter earn top awards|work=MLB.com|date=October 27, 2007|archivedate=November 9, 2007|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>

====Opt-out controversy====
The 2007 season marked the last year of Rodriguez's 10-year, $252&nbsp;million contract before he opted out and became a free agent again. Rodriguez had repeatedly stated during the [[2007 MLB Season|2007 season]] that he would like to remain a Yankee for the rest of his career.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 24, 2007|title=A-Rod doesn't want to leave NY next season|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2848306|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On October 28, 2007, Rodriguez's agent, [[Scott Boras]], announced that he would not renew his contract with the Yankees citing that he "was unsure of the future composition" of the team. Because of the opt-out, the Yankees also lost $21.3 million in remaining payments from the Rangers as part of their agreement from the 2004 trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rodriguez opts out of $252 million, 10-year contract with Yanks |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3084583 |access-date=29 October 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=29 October 2007 |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez received a slew of criticism from fans and writers alike not only for opting out, but also for not meeting with Yankee management before he did. He was further criticized for the timing of his announcement, during the eighth inning of Game 4 of the [[2007 World Series|World Series]], as the [[Boston Red Sox]] were wrapping up their victory over the [[Colorado Rockies]]; even MLB's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, called it an attempt by Boras to "try to put his selfish interests and that of one individual player above the overall good of the game."<ref>{{cite web|date=October 29, 2007|title=Yankees bid farewell to A-Rod after likely MVP opts out|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3085166|access-date=July 7, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Teammate [[Mariano Rivera]] convinced Rodriguez to contact the New York Yankees ownership.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=March 30, 2013|title=Hitched to an Aging Star: Anatomy of a Deal, and Doubts|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/sports/baseball/yankees-hitched-to-alex-rodriguez-an-aging-star-anatomy-of-a-deal-and-doubts.html|access-date=August 13, 2013}}</ref> He contacted them directly, bypassing Boras (Boras also apologized for the timing of the announcement). Subsequently, Rodriguez issued a statement on his website, saying that he wished to stay with the Yankees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arod.mlb.com/players/Rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407 |title=Official statement from Alex Rodriguez |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102160513/http://arod.mlb.com/players/Rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407 |archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> On November 15, 2007, the New York Yankees and Rodriguez agreed on the "basic framework" of a 10-year, $275&nbsp;million contract that would have him playing until he was 42.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barra|first=Allen|date=March 10, 2009|title=A-Rod, Superscar|url=http://www.observer.com/2009/rod-superscar?page=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626060214/http://www.observer.com/2009/rod-superscar?page=1|archive-date=June 26, 2009|access-date=March 11, 2009|website=[[New York Observer]]}}</ref> The contract, finalized December 13, included various multimillion-dollar incentives for breaking career home run milestones.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=November 26, 2007|title=Home runs could net A-Rod up to $30M in incentives|work=[[USA Today]]|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2007-11-25-arod-incentives_N.htm|access-date=April 28, 2010}}</ref>

====2008====
[[File:Alex Rodriguez 2008-04-19.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Rodriguez at bat in 2008]]
Rodriguez hit his 549th home run in a September 3, 2008, game against the [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]]. The opposing manager objected that the ball was foul, and for the first time in MLB history, [[Instant replay#Baseball|instant replay]] (a process officially introduced a few days earlier) was used to review the play and uphold the umpires' ruling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chastain|first=Bill|date=September 4, 2008|title=MLB official site: Instant replay used for first time|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080903&content_id=3412816&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906205739/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080903&content_id=3412816&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=September 6, 2008|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> He was one of only four batters in the AL to have at least 18 home runs and 18 stolen bases in both 2007 and 2008, along with [[Torii Hunter]], [[Ian Kinsler]], and [[Grady Sizemore]]. Rodriguez hit a home run every 14.6 at-bats in 2008, the second-best ratio on the team behind [[Jason Giambi]].<ref name="100random">{{cite web|last=Chuck|first=Bill|date=April 2, 2009|title=100 random things about the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405072934/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|archive-date=April 5, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2009|website=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Rodriguez played 138 games during the 2008 season with a .302 average, 35 home runs, 103 RBI, and an AL best .573 slugging percentage.<ref name="b-r" />

====Early 2009: Report of positive test for steroids====
On February 7, 2009, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' reported that Rodriguez tested positive for [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]] and the [[anabolic steroids|anabolic steroid]] [[Primobolan]] in 2003.<ref name="SIsteroids">{{cite magazine|last1=Robers|first1=Selena|last2=Epstein|first2=David|date=February 7, 2009|title=Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208115937/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/index.html|archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> Rodriguez's name appears on a government-sealed list of 104 major-league players (out of 1200 tested<ref name="Glanville"/>) who came up positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The report was compiled as part of Major League Baseball's 2003 survey to see whether mandatory random drug testing program might be necessary. At the time, there was no penalty or punishment for a positive steroid test. Rodriguez did not immediately confirm the allegations, deferring at first to the players' union.<ref name="SIsteroids"/><ref name="NYTsteroids"/> Two days after the allegations, Rodriguez admitted to steroid use from 2001 until 2003, claiming that he ceased using such substances after spring training that year.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/><ref name="NYTadmission"/>

====2009 regular season====
Prior to the 2009 season, Rodriguez was scheduled to represent the Dominican Republic in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]], but he was forced to withdraw when an MRI revealed a [[cyst]] in his right hip. When he went to have the cyst drained, it was discovered that he was also suffering from a [[acetabular labrum|torn labrum]] in the same hip. Rodriguez opted to undergo an arthroscopic procedure with a recovery period of six to nine weeks, instead of the usual three to four months.<ref name="surgery">{{cite web|date=March 8, 2009|title=A-Rod to have arthroscopic hip surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3961898|access-date=June 4, 2009|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> Although the procedure should have allowed him to make it through the season without any complications, he required a second, more extensive surgery in the off-season.<ref name="surgery"/>

After missing [[spring training]] and the first month of the season, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in a May 8 game against the [[2009 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] and hit a three-run home run on the first pitch of his first at-bat.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=May 8, 2009|title=CC goes distance to stop Yanks' skid|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=4626340&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512173139/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=4626340&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=May 12, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> The Yankees had stumbled to a 13–15 record in Rodriguez's absence, and his return fortified the lineup and provided much-needed protection for three-hole hitter [[Mark Teixeira]], who was a notoriously slow starter. Rodriguez also supplied some late-game heroics. On May 16, his two-run [[walk-off home run]] in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Yankees a 6–4 win over the [[2009 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ghiroli|first=Brittany|date=May 16, 2009|title=Yanks walk off on A-Rod's tater in 11th|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090516&content_id=4769496&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520012723/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090516&content_id=4769496&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=May 20, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> One week later, he hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off [[2009 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] closer [[Brad Lidge]] in a game the Yankees would go on to win, 5–4.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 23, 2009|title=A-Rod homers to tie, Cabrera singles for victory as Lidge falls to 0-2|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290523110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002054819/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290523110|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref>

By early June, the Yankees had surged to first place in the [[AL East]]. The club's fortunes changed later in the month, when Rodriguez fell into a slump that saw his batting average plummet as the Yankees fell to second place. On June 23, Rodriguez became the eighth active player to reach 8,000 career at-bats in the seventh inning of the Yankees and Braves game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 24, 2009|title=With each passing day, Joba maturing|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090623&content_id=5481638&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106053137/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090623&content_id=5481638&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=November 6, 2012|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> On June 25, Rodriguez belted homer 563 of his career, off [[2009 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] starter [[Derek Lowe]], and tying [[Reggie Jackson]] for 11th on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 25, 2009|title=Recharged A-Rod carries Yankees|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090625&content_id=5523840&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628155400/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090625&content_id=5523840&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=June 28, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> On June 26, Rodriguez surpassed Jackson for 11th on the all-time home run list, against the [[2009 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in the [[Subway Series]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Diamond|first=Jared|date=June 27, 2009|title=A-Rod passes Reggie with No. 564|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5554188&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629133214/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5554188&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=June 29, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> and against the Angels on July 11, Rodriguez passed [[Rafael Palmeiro]] for 10th place;<ref>{{cite web|author=Roberts|first=Quinn|date=July 11, 2009|title=A-Rod now 10th all-time in home runs|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090711&content_id=5826720&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713074029/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090711&content_id=5826720&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=July 13, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> it was his 65th home run against Anaheim, the most by any active player against an opponent.

On October 4, 2009, during the final game of the season, Rodriguez hit two home runs in the sixth inning that drove in seven runs, setting an American League record for most RBI by a batter in a single inning, and giving him his 12th consecutive season, 13 overall, of reaching 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with [[Manny Ramirez]], [[Babe Ruth]] and [[Jimmie Foxx]] for the most in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 4, 2009|title=A-Rod hits 2 HRs, drives in AL-record 7 in 6th as Yanks win|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=291004130|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629135743/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=291004130|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2009}}</ref>

====2009 postseason====
Dating back to Game 4 of the 2004 AL Championship Series, Rodriguez had batted with 38 runners on base over a span of 61 postseason at-bats. He stranded every one of them, going 0-for-29 with runners on base.<ref>{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=October 7, 2009|title='Little things' help A-Rod solve October|url=http://m.mlb.com/nyy/news/article/200910077391972|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714103331/http://m.mlb.com/nyy/news/article/200910077391972|archive-date=July 14, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2010|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> However, in the first game of the [[2009 American League Division Series|2009 ALDS]] against Minnesota, he hit two RBI singles − both coming with two outs. In Game 2, he hit an RBI single in the sixth, and hit a game-tying homer off closer [[Joe Nathan]] in the bottom of the ninth inning. In Game 3, he again hit a game-tying home run. In the [[2009 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], Rodriguez hit his third game-tying home run of the postseason in Game 2 in the bottom of the 11th against [[2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season|Angels]] closer [[Brian Fuentes]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291017110 | title=Angels 3-4 Yankees (18 Oct, 2009) Game Recap }}</ref> For the series, he batted 9–21 (.429) with three home runs and six runs batted in.

The Yankees faced the Phillies in the [[2009 World Series|World Series]]. In Game 3, Rodriguez hit what appeared to be a double off a camera perched atop the outfield wall, but after protest by Yankee manager [[Joe Girardi]], the play was reviewed and ruled a home run. In Game 4, Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning off closer [[Brad Lidge]]. The Yankees would go on to win the game 7–4 to take a 3-games-to-1 lead in the series. Despite a 2–4 performance with three RBI in Game 5, the Yankees lost 8–6 to force the Series to return to the Bronx for Game 6. Rodriguez was 1–2 with 2 walks and two runs scored in Game 6, as the Yankees went on to defeat the Phillies 7–3 for their 27th World Series Championship, the first of Rodriguez's career. Having reversed his postseason misfortunes, he was the [[Babe Ruth Award]] winner as the 2009 postseason MVP,<ref name="ap012410">{{cite news|date=January 24, 2010|title=Rodriguez chokes up during speech|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4853444|access-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref> in which he batted .365 with six home runs and 18 RBI.<ref name="kruth080716">{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 7, 2016|title=A-Rod to play final game on Friday, become advisor for Yanks: 22-year playing career will end with fourth-most homers in Major League history|work=[[MLB.com]]|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-to-retire-c194038578|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808162350/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/194038578/alex-rodriguez-to-retire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2010–2012====
On August 4, 2010, on the three-year anniversary of his 500th home run, Rodriguez became the seventh player in major league history to hit 600 home runs, hitting number 600 off [[Shaun Marcum]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], becoming the youngest player to do so at 35 years and 8 days old.<ref>{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Tim|date=August 4, 2010|title=A-Rod youngest in history to 600 homers &#124; MLB.com: News|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100804&content_id=13011408&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806185135/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100804&content_id=13011408&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=August 6, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> On August 14, Rodriguez hit three home runs in a game against the [[Kansas City Royals]]. In the top of the sixth, he hit his first, a solo dinger to left center. In the top of the seventh, he hit his second, a two-run shot to dead center. In the top of the ninth, he hit his third, a towering two-run blast into the waterfall in [[Kauffman Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tucker|first=Doug|date=August 14, 2010|title=A-Rod hits 3 home runs in 8-3 win over Royals|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-a-rod-hits-3-home-runs-in-8-3-win-over-royals-2010aug14-story.html|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 6, he recorded his 100th RBI; it was the 14th year he had reached the mark, the most times of any player in baseball history. On September 29, he hit his 30th home run of the season, recording his major league record 13th straight year of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with [[Jimmie Foxx]], who had 12 seasons.

In 2011, Rodriguez batted .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs prior to the All-Star break. Despite good production, Rodriguez suffered the longest single-season home run drought of his career by not hitting one in 85 at-bats. Although elected to start the game, Rodriguez opted for arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus that impacted his power, and was placed on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bagley|first1=Ian|last2=Mazzeo|first2=Mike|date=July 10, 2011|title=Alex Rodriguez to have knee surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6754883|access-date=October 18, 2011|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> On top of recovery, Rodriguez was facing serious allegations that he participated in illegal, underground poker games. One of those games reportedly turned violent and cocaine was openly used. However, Rodriguez denied through a representative that he ever participated in illegal poker games. An MLB Executive has said that if Rodriguez was indeed proven guilty, he may face a suspension; MLB had warned Rodriguez in 2005 not to participate in such games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 4, 2011|title=MLB investigates A-Rod gambling|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6830659/mlb-suspend-alex-rodriguez-illegal-poker|access-date=October 18, 2011|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Rodriguez returned to the Yankees on August 21, playing third base against the [[Minnesota Twins]], going 0-for-4. He sustained another injury with a jammed thumb while trying to make a play in that game. He returned to the Yankees on August 25, going 2-for-4 with two singles in a win for the Yankees over the [[Oakland Athletics]]. On August 26, Rodriguez hit his first home run since coming off the disabled list, a solo shot off [[Baltimore Orioles]] pitcher [[Tommy Hunter (baseball)|Tommy Hunter]]. He concluded the season with 16&nbsp;home runs and 62&nbsp;RBIs in 99&nbsp;games, ending his major league-record streak of 13&nbsp;straight seasons of 30&nbsp;homers and 100&nbsp;RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 29, 2011|title=Evan Longoria homers in 12th as Rays storm into postseason|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928130|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001155414/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928130|archive-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref>

Rodriguez hit his 23rd career grand slam off [[Atlanta Braves]] relief pitcher [[Jonny Venters]] on June 12, 2012, which tied [[Lou Gehrig]] for the most in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=June 12, 2012|title=Rodriguez Ties Gehrig's Grand Slam Record in Win Over Braves|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/sports/baseball/rodriguez-matches-gehrig-with-23-grand-slams-in-yanks-win-over-braves.html|access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> In a road loss versus the [[Seattle Mariners]] on July 24, 2012, Rodriguez took a hit to the hand during an eighth-inning at bat versus Seattle starting pitcher [[Félix Hernández]]. The injury was later described as a non-displaced fracture.<ref name="Hand">{{cite news|date=July 25, 2012|title=A-Rod breaks hand, Seattle beats Yankees 4–2|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/07/24/41934/index.html#preview|url-status=dead|access-date=July 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728015522/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/07/24/41934/index.html#preview|archive-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Rodriguez was placed on the disabled list. Earlier in the same game, Hernandez struck out Rodriguez in the sixth inning, making Rodriguez the fifth player to record 2,000 career strikeouts in MLB history.<ref name="Hand" />

During the 2012 postseason, Rodriguez was removed for a pinch hitter multiple times and did not start many times. He batted 3-for-25 overall, and went 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitchers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=October 26, 2012|title=Girardi made special press-level call to spare A-Rod's feelings|work=[[CBS Sports]]|publisher=|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/20697847/girardi-made-special-press-level-call-to-shield-a-rods-feelings|url-status=dead|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119054955/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/20697847/girardi-made-special-press-level-call-to-shield-a-rods-feelings|archive-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> He batted .111 in the 2012 ALCS.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Hare|first=James|date=September 30, 2013|title=20 Dumbest Professional Athletes of All Time|url=http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/2013/09/30/15-dumbest-professional-athletes-of-all-time-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004051448/http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/2013/09/30/15-dumbest-professional-athletes-of-all-time-2/|archive-date=October 4, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2016|website=Rant Sports}}</ref> The Yankees were eliminated by the Tigers in the [[2012 ALCS]].

====2013====
[[File:5V7A9422 Alex Rodriguez.jpg|thumb|left|Rodriguez playing for the [[Trenton Thunder]], the Yankees' AA affiliate, in 2013]]
On January 16, 2013, Rodriguez underwent [[arthroscopic surgery]] in his hip to repair a torn [[Acetabular labrum|labrum]]. It was the second time in four years that he had the surgery, although the operation was more serious than before. Rodriguez began the 2013 season on the 60-day [[disabled list]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Alex Rodriguez has hip surgery; Yankees say recovery time remains 6 months|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/alex-rodriguez-has-hip-surgery-yankees-say-recovery-time-remains-6-months/2013/01/16/da7676cc-6018-11e2-9dc9-bca76dd777b8_story.html|url-status=dead|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211145942/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/alex-rodriguez-has-hip-surgery-yankees-say-recovery-time-remains-6-months/2013/01/16/da7676cc-6018-11e2-9dc9-bca76dd777b8_story.html|archive-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

While rehabilitating his hip, Rodriguez was embroiled in a series of negative headlines: he became a central figure of the [[Biogenesis scandal]] and MLB's investigation into his possible connection to performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Terri|last2=Madden|first2=Bill|last3=Red|first3=Christian|last4=O'Keeffe|first4=Michael|date=June 6, 2013|title=Yankees' Alex Rodriguez refuses to pay Anthony Bosch, who then cuts deal to help MLB|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-team/a-rod-refuses-pay-bosch-cuts-deal-mlb-article-1.1364586|access-date=August 5, 2013}}</ref> Around the same time, Rodriguez announced on Twitter that his doctor had medically cleared him to play in games. Yankees general manager [[Brian Cashman]], much to his dismay, soon revealed that Rodriguez's doctor did not have such authority to clear him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/cashman-isnt-trying-to-be-nice-to-a-rod-anymore.html|title=Brian Cashman Isn't Trying to Be Nice to A-Rod Anymore|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Joe|last=DeLessio|date=June 26, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2013}}</ref>

Rodriguez played his first rehab assignment game on July 2, 2013, with the Yankees Class-A Low affiliate, the [[Charleston RiverDogs]].<ref>{{cite web|date=July 1, 2013|title=A-Rod To Play First Rehab Assignment Game On Tuesday|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/sports/sports_news/184801/a-rod-to-play-first-rehab-assignment-game-on-tuesday|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142112/http://www.ny1.com/content/sports/sports_news/184801/a-rod-to-play-first-rehab-assignment-game-on-tuesday|archive-date=April 13, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2013|website=[[NY1]]|publisher=}}</ref> He continued his rehabilitation and played for the Yankees Triple-A team, the [[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders]] on July 18.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Roger|date=July 17, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez will play his next rehab game for Triple-A Scranton|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/a-rod-rehab-triple-a-scranton-article-1.1401083#ixzz2ZK8xAKsd|access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> Two days prior to his scheduled promotion to the major league roster, Rodriguez sustained a new injury, as an MRI later revealed a Grade 1 quad strain, delaying his return and forcing him to continue rehabilitating in the minor leagues. Rodriguez independently sought a second opinion on his quad strain on July 24 with a doctor who stated that there did not appear to be an injury; the Yankees front office expressed further dismay, claiming that he violated league rules for seeking a second opinion without the team's permission.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/07/doctor-a-rods-quad-is-just-fine.html | title=Doctor: A-Rods Quad is Just Fine | date=July 24, 2013 }}</ref> He completed his rehabilitation program with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate [[Trenton Thunder]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Canavan|first=Tom|date=August 2, 2013|title=ALEX RODRIGUEZ HOMERS IN DOUBLE-A REHAB GAME|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alex-rodriguez-arrives-trenton-rehab-games|url-status=dead|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123609/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alex-rodriguez-arrives-trenton-rehab-games|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>

Rodriguez made his 2013 return with the Yankees on August 5, which was the same day that MLB announced he would be suspended—pending an appeal—through the 2014 season for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 5, 2013|title=A-Rod suspended, pending appeal|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9540887/mlb-suspends-alex-rodriguez-2014-season|access-date=August 5, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> On August 11, Rodriguez hit his first home run of the season off [[Detroit Tigers]] pitcher [[Justin Verlander]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Rieber|first=Anthony|date=August 11, 2013|title=Yankees win on Brett Gardner walk-off, Alex Rodriguez hits first homer of season|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-win-on-brett-gardner-walk-off-alex-rodriguez-hits-first-homer-of-season-1.5872451|access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref> With the home run, Rodriguez passed [[Stan Musial]] for fifth place in career RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 11, 2013|title=A-Rod homers, passes Musial on RBI list|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130811&content_id=56647426&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=August 13, 2013}}</ref> Rodriguez continued to feud with the Yankees front office following his return, as his lawyers accused the team, and specifically [[Christopher S. Ahmad]], of mishandling his hip injury in several ways; Rodriguez's legal team contended that the team withheld the injury from him and continued to play him in 2012, despite his condition. Yankees team president [[Randy Levine]] expressed negative comments towards Rodriguez, saying that he would "feel happy if Rodriguez never played again".<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=August 18, 2013|title=A-Rod grievance process started|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9579580/alex-rodriguez-lawyers-began-grievance-process-sources-say|access-date=August 19, 2013|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> In response to the accusations, Cashman said, "I'm not comfortable talking to Alex about this because we feel we are in a litigious environment. Hello and goodbye, that's about it." He added, "It's not just Yankees' management. He's putting it at the level of our trainers, our medical staff. The organization. The team."<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 18, 2013|title=GM 'not comfortable' with A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9579922/new-york-yankees-gm-not-comfortable-talking-alex-rodriguez|access-date=August 19, 2013|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

During a game against the Red Sox on August 18, 2013, Rodriguez was involved in key moments against [[Ryan Dempster]]. The first time he faced Dempster, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch on a 3–0 count, leading to home plate umpire [[Brian O'Nora]] warning both benches and ejecting Girardi, while Dempster was allowed to stay in the game. Later in the top of the sixth inning, Rodriguez encountered Dempster again, hitting a 442-foot home run to straightaway center.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 19, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez gets plunked, hits homer to spark Yankees|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/330818102|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010062059/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/330818102|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 10, 2021|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> The Yankees won 9–6, and Dempster, who hit Rodriguez before, was suspended five games by the league with an undisclosed fine (although he did not miss a start).<ref>{{cite web|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|date=August 20, 2013|title=MLB suspends Ryan Dempster 5 games for hitting A-Rod|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/08/20/ryan-dempster-suspended-alex-rodriguez-mlb/2676575/|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 20, at [[Yankee Stadium]], Rodriguez hit his 24th career [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]], an opposite field 654th career home run, off [[George Kontos]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]], breaking the all-time grand slam record, formerly held by [[Lou Gehrig]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=September 21, 2013|title=A-ROD SETS SLAM RECORD, YANKEES BEAT GIANTS 5–1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/rod-sets-slam-record-yankees-beat-giants-5-1|url-status=dead|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014103720/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/rod-sets-slam-record-yankees-beat-giants-5-1|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> For the 2013 season, Rodriguez played in only 44 games batting .244 with seven home runs and 19 RBI.<ref name="b-r" />

====2014: Suspension due to Biogenesis scandal====
Rodriguez's suspension that was announced the previous season but delayed pending an appeal, was upheld, resulting in him being suspended for the entirety of the 2014 regular season and postseason.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=August 5, 2013|title=Suspension Leaves Many Questions for Now and Later|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/sports/baseball/filling-in-the-details-of-rodriguezs-suspension.html|access-date=August 6, 2013|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At the end of the 2014 season, general manager Brian Cashman announced that Rodriguez would no longer serve as an everyday third baseman after the team's signing of [[Chase Headley]], and would instead serve as a [[designated hitter]].<ref name="DH">{{cite news|date=December 16, 2014|title=GM: 'Can't expect' much from A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12037429/alex-rodriguez-now-full-dh|access-date=December 16, 2014|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

====2015====
In the off-season, during the week of January 19, 2015, it was reported that Rodriguez met with new [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Rob Manfred]]. The pair reportedly had a "positive discussion...in which Rodriguez apologized, while promising to behave in the future".<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=January 24, 2015|title=A-Rod meets with Rob Manfred|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12221039/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-meets-rob-manfred|access-date=January 24, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On February 17, 2015, Rodriguez issued a hand-written letter of apology to "Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans".<ref>{{cite web|date=February 17, 2015|title=A-Rod issues hand-written letter of apology to fans|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguezs-letter-of-apology-to-fans/c-109501412|access-date=February 17, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=February 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218010131/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/109501412/alex-rodriguezs-letter-of-apology-to-fans|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rodriguez reported to New York Yankees' 2015 spring training camp three days early.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=February 23, 2015|title=A-Rod reports to Yanks in Tampa|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12369495/alex-rodriguez-reports-new-york-yankees-following-season-long-suspension|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=February 23, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez Reports To Yankees Spring Training|url=https://www.courant.com/spots/baseball/hc-alex-rodriguez-reports-yankees-0223-20150223-story.html|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[Hartford Courant]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hurcomb|first=Michael|date=February 23, 2015|title=A-Rod reports three days early for spring training with Yankees|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25079003/a-rod-reports-three-days-early-for-spring-training-with-yankees|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> Girardi planned to play Rodriguez at first base during spring training to assess whether he could be played there, a first for his career.<ref>{{cite news|last=Witz|first=Billy|date=February 27, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez attends first-base school, but a key item is absent|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/sports/baseball/alex-rodriguez-attends-first-base-school-but-a-key-item-is-absent.html|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Andy|date=March 3, 2015|title=New York Today: Boys of Spring|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/new-york-today-boys-of-spring/|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez played his first game after his suspension on opening day against the [[2015 Toronto Blue Jays season|Blue Jays]] at Yankee Stadium. He served as the designated hitter, going 1 for 2 with a walk as the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays 1–6.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=April 6, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez receives loud ovation in Yankee Stadium return|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12628754/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-receives-loud-ovation-yankee-stadium-return|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> On April 17, his first multi-HR game – and third and fourth home runs – of the season included a blast off [[Nate Karns]] of [[2015 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay]] that traveled {{convert|471|ft}}, providing four total RBIs in a 5–4 win.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reiter|first=Ben|date=April 17, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez's resurgent year continues with monster night vs. Rays|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/04/17/alex-rodriguez-home-runs-comeback-yankees-rays|access-date=April 18, 2015|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> In a pinch-hit appearance against the [[2015 Boston Red Sox season|Red Sox]] on May 1, Rodriguez hit his 660th career home run off reliever [[Junichi Tazawa]], tying [[Willie Mays]] for fourth place on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=May 2, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez hits home run No. 660, tying Willie Mays for fourth on all-time list as Yankees beat Red Sox, 3–2|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/alex-rodriguez-hits-home-run-no-660-tying-willie-mays-article-1.2207425|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> On May 7, Rodriguez hit his 661st career home run off [[Baltimore Orioles|Orioles]] pitcher [[Chris Tillman]] for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zucker|first=Joseph|date=May 7, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez Passes Willie Mays for 4th Place on MLB's All-Time Home Run List|url=http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2452843-alex-rodriguez-passes-willie-mays-for-4th-place-on-mlbs-all-time-home-run-list|access-date=June 19, 2015|work=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> On May 27, Rodriguez set an AL record for the most career RBI, passing Lou Gehrig, also moving him into third on the all-time list.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=May 27, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez of New York Yankees takes sole possession of all-time AL RBI list|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12962923/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-takes-sole-possession-all-al-rbi-list|access-date=May 27, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

With his 666th career home run against [[Bud Norris]] of the Orioles on June 13, Rodriguez drove in his 2,000th and 2,001st career runs. However, opinions varied on whether he was the second ([[Elias Sports Bureau]], trailing Aaron), third (MLB, trailing Aaron and Ruth),<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 13, 2015|title=A-Rod passes 2,000 RBIs with homer|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-passes-2000-rbis-with-homer/c-130475370|access-date=June 14, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=June 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616192932/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/130475370/alex-rodriguez-passes-2000-rbis-with-homer|url-status=live}}</ref> or fourth player (Baseball-Reference.com, trailing Aaron, Ruth, and [[Cap Anson]]) in MLB history to attain 2,000 RBIs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Career leaders & records for runs batted in|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/RBI_career.shtml|access-date=June 14, 2015|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> Rodriguez's next home run was also his [[3,000 hit club|3,000th career hit]], making him the 29th player to reach the milestone. He hit it against the [[2015 Detroit Tigers season|Tigers]]' [[Justin Verlander]] in a 7–2 win, joining [[Wade Boggs]] and Jeter – both former Yankees – as the only players to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 20, 2015|title=A-Rod: 3rd to homer for 3,000th hit|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/a-rod-third-to-homer-for-3000th-hit/c-131700474|access-date=June 20, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623041013/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/131700474/a-rod-third-to-homer-for-3000th-hit|url-status=live}}</ref> With his next hit on June 20, Rodriguez surpassed [[Roberto Clemente]], the eleventh player in MLB history to have recorded 3,000 hits.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fehr|first=Israel|date=June 21, 2015|title=Yankees trounce Tigers as A-Rod passes Roberto Clemente on all-time hit list|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yankees-trounce-tigers-as-a-rod-passes-roberto-clemente-on-all-time-hit-list-032150646.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621223644/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yankees-trounce-tigers-as-a-rod-passes-roberto-clemente-on-all-time-hit-list-032150646.html|archive-date=June 21, 2015|access-date=June 22, 2015|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}</ref> On July 25, against the [[2015 Minnesota Twins season|Twins]] in [[Minnesota]], and two days before his 40th birthday, Rodríguez became the fifth-oldest player to hit three home runs in one game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nathan|first=Alec|date=July 25, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez hits 3 home runs vs. Twins|url=http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2531408-alex-rodriguez-hits-3-home-runs-vs-twins-stats-highlights-and-reaction|access-date=July 25, 2015|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|publisher=}}</ref>

In his first 95 games of the season, Rodriguez hit 24 homers and produced an OPS of .930.<ref name="mccarron052616">{{cite web|last=McCarron|first=Andrew|date=May 26, 2016|title=Yankees should sit Alex Rodriguez more often when he returns|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mccarron-designated-sitter-perfect-role-alex-rodriguez-article-1.2650380|access-date=May 28, 2016|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> After being mired in a 72-at-bat slump without a home run until August 18 against the Twins, he hit his 25th home run which was also his 25th career grand slam, extending his major league record. The home run also drove in the go-ahead runs for an 8–4 Yankees win.<ref>{{cite news|last=Witz|first=Billy|date=August 18, 2015|title=Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ends drought with a pivotal grand slam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/sports/baseball/alex-rodriguezs-grand-slam-comes-at-right-time.html|access-date=August 23, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
[[File:Alex Rodriguez on August 2, 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Rodriguez with the Yankees in 2016]]

From August 1 until the end of the season, Rodriguez appeared in 56 games, batting .191, .678 OPS, nine home runs, and struck out 59 times in 183 at-bats.<ref name=mccarron052616/> The first base experiment yielded two total appearances in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Randy|date=May 26, 2016|title=Alex Rodriguez returning: Can Yankees DH fill in at 1st in pinch?|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/05/alex_rodriguez_is_back_can_yankees_dh_fill_in_at_1.html|access-date=May 28, 2016|website=[[NJ.com]]}}</ref> He finished with 33 home runs, 86 RBI, 131 hits, and a .252 batting average.<ref name="b-r" /> He led the Yankees in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, and bases-on-balls. Rodriguez reached 30+ home runs for the 15th time in his career, tying Aaron for the most 30-home-run seasons in history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snyder|first=Matt|date=September 8, 2015|title=A-Rod joins Hank Aaron as only players with 15 30-home run seasons|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25295044/a-rod-joins-hank-aaron-as-only-players-with-15-30-hr-seasons|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909111342/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25295044/a-rod-joins-hank-aaron-as-only-players-with-15-30-hr-seasons|archive-date=September 9, 2015|access-date=May 28, 2016|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

====2016====
On April 17, 2016, Rodriguez became the 19th player to make 12,000 career [[List of Major League Baseball career plate appearance leaders|plate appearances]]. On May 4, the Yankees placed him on the 15-day disabled list due to a right hamstring strain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marchand  |first=Andrew  |date=May 4, 2016 |title=Yankees place DH Alex Rodriguez on 15-day DL |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/15462450/new-york-yankees-place-designated-hitter-alex-rodriguez-disabled-list-strained-right-hamstring |access-date=May 5, 2016 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> On May 24, the Yankees sent him on a rehab assignment to the Double-A Trenton Thunder,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Franko|first1=Kyle|date=May 24, 2016|title=Alex Rodriguez preparing for Yankees return with Thunder|url=https://www.trentonian.com/2016/05/24/alex-rodriguez-preparing-for-yankees-return-with-thunder/|access-date=May 24, 2016|newspaper=[[The Trentonian]]}}</ref> and activated him on May 26.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Randy|date=May 26, 2016|title=Yankees' lineup vs. Blue Jays: Alex Rodriguez back, Richard Bleier aboard|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/05/yankees_lineup_for_thursday_vs_toronto_blue_jays_a.html|access-date=May 26, 2016|website=[[NJ.com]]|publisher=}}</ref> The next day, he hit his 30th career home run at [[Tropicana Field]], which traveled an estimated {{convert|440|ft}}, as the Yankees defeated [[2016 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay]], 4–1.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chastain|first1=Bill|last2=Hoch|first2=Bryan|date=May 27, 2016|title=A-Rod's HR leads bats behind Tanaka for win|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-homers-as-yankees-beat-rays-c180590160|access-date=May 27, 2016|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=May 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531153335/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/180590160/alex-rodriguez-homers-as-yankees-beat-rays|url-status=live}}</ref> However, for much of the season, Rodriguez notably struggled to adequately produce, enduring prolonged slumps as his role dwindled from everyday designated hitter to pinch hitter. In July, he had two extra base hits, including his 696th career home run.<ref>{{cite web|last=Needelman|first=Joshua|date=August 2, 2016|title=Future with Yanks uncertain, A-Rod 'at peace'|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-alex-rodriguez-faces-uncertain-future-c193219340|access-date=August 2, 2016|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=August 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806121505/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/193219340/yankees-alex-rodriguez-faces-uncertain-future/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:Cubs 029 (30085597324) Alex Rodriguez Fox Sports postgame.jpg|thumbnail|left|Rodriquez working as a postgame television commentator during the [[2016 World Series]]]]
At a press conference held on August 7, Rodriguez announced that he would play in his final game for the Yankees on the following Friday, August 12, against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. It was also noted that the Yankees would sign him to a new contract that would keep him in the organization through 2017 as a special instructor and advisor. In the offseason, Rodriguez would join the Yankees' [[Front office (sports)|front office]] as a special advisor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=August 7, 2016|title=Alex Rodriguez to retire and join Yankees as an adviser|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/08/sports/baseball/alex-rodriguez-to-be-released-and-join-yankees-as-an-adviser.html|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The club commemorated Rodriguez's final game as a Yankee, thanking him in front of a sold-out crowd for his efforts with a tribute of highlights on the stadium videoboard, a presentation of a framed number 13 jersey, and a base autographed by teammates.<ref name="suss081216">{{cite news|last=Suss|first=Nick|date=August 12, 2016|title=Return to 3B conjures emotions for A-Rod, Girardi: 'Third base is where I lived,' slugger says in farewell to Yankees|work=[[MLB.com]]|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-plays-third-base-in-final-game-c195305726|access-date=August 13, 2016|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816170018/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/195305726/alex-rodriguez-plays-third-base-in-final-game/?game_pk=448596|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 12, 2016|title=A-Rod bids Yanks ad13u on emotional night|work=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|url=http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/195190378/alex-rodriguez-at-peace-as-career-nears-end/|access-date=August 13, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814152023/http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/195190378/alex-rodriguez-at-peace-as-career-nears-end/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the plate, he batted third and started as the designated hitter, going 1-for-4 with an RBI double. In the ninth inning, he was brought onto the field at third base for one batter − his only defensive appearance for the Yankees in 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees – Box Score – August 12, 2016|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/360812110|access-date=August 13, 2016|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> − and departed the field to a "raucous ovation" from the fans.<ref name=suss081216/> The next day, the Yankees granted him his unconditional release.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 13, 2016|title=A-Rod released by Yankees, who owe him $27 million more|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/13/a-rod-released-by-yankees-who-owe-him-27-million-more/88670476/|access-date=August 13, 2016|work=[[USA Today]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> His vacated roster spot was filled by future MVP [[Aaron Judge]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuel |first=Ebenezer |date=August 13, 2016 |title=After A-Rod's final game, Yankees call up Aaron Judge and bat him 8th vs. Rays |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/a-rod-final-game-yankees-call-aaron-judge-article-1.2749746 |access-date=August 15, 2016 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref>

Rumors swirled regarding Rodriguez's future in baseball; the [[Miami Marlins]] were interested in signing him to play first base until his spokesman [[Ron Berkowitz]] emailed the media on August 15 and said on behalf of Rodriguez, "I want to put all this talk to rest about Alex 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."<ref>{{cite web|last=Marcus|first=Steven|date=August 15, 2016|title=A-Rod's rep says he won't play again this year|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/alex-rodriguez-won-t-play-again-this-season-his-publicist-says-1.12178623|access-date=August 15, 2016|website=[[Newsday]]}}</ref> Rodriguez ended the season playing 65 games with a .200 batting average, nine home runs and 31 RBIs.<ref name="b-r" />

In January 2017, Rodriguez's spokesman said that he would not play for any other team in the coming year, and would remain a "special advisor" to Yankees owner [[Hal Steinbrenner]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Red|first=Christian|date=January 4, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez will embrace 'special advisor' role with Yankees, not attempt return to baseball in 2017|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York City|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/alex-rodriguez-won-attempt-return-baseball-2017-article-1.2934947|url-status=live|access-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108011607/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/alex-rodriguez-won-attempt-return-baseball-2017-article-1.2934947|archive-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref>