Editing Alex Rodriguez (section)

====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>