NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez says he plans to retire from baseball after the 2017 season.
The New York Yankees slugger revealed his intentions Wednesday during an interview with ESPN. His plans were confirmed by spokesman Ron Berkowitz.
Rodriguez, who returned last season from a one-year drug suspension, has 687 home runs, 75 shy of Barry Bonds’ career record. His 10-year contract with the Yankees runs through 2017.
Rodriguez came to the Yankees in 2004 in a trade that rocked the baseball world when New York sent Alfonso Soriano to the Texas Rangers, CBS New York reported.
Despite winning two MVPs and a World Series with the Yanks, the mercurial slugger has never been viewed as a fan favorite, seemingly playing second fiddle to Derek Jeter.
Last season, the Yanks tried to block Rodriguez from receiving contract escalators after passing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. The two came to a compromise as the Yankees donated the money to charity.
Berkowitz says “at the end of the contract he’s going to be 42 years old, but we still have (324) games to go until we get to this point.”
Despite the gaudy numbers, it’s unlikely he will ever reach the Hall of Fame due to his PED use.
