By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
In the ninth inning with the New York Yankees leading 6-3 over the Tampa Bay Rays, Alex Rodriguez took the field at third base. He stayed for one out, before being removed by manager Joe Girardi.
He shook hands and hugged his teammates as he was going off the field and near the team’s bench. Rodriguez also saluted the crowd, before hugging Girardi.
“It was so awesome,” he said to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal after the game. “It was quite an experience. I want to thank Joe.”
READ MORE: Click here for our latest MLB coverage
⚡️ Level up your game-day experience! ⚡️ Add some extra thrill to every play by betting with our trusted sports betting partners. Click the link below to get in on the action! 👇
The Capital Sports Report is your source for national sports news, but we need YOUR help to keep going strong! 💪 Just like traditional newspapers, we rely on your support to bring you the best coverage possible. Donations allow us to expand our reach, travel to cover more events, and bring you unique stories and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. Invest in the future of sports journalism – donate today! You can make a monetary donation here.
Girardi refused to give Rodriguez his final wish — which was to start Friday’s game. He served as the team’s designated hitter but Girardi wanted to give him another out in the field — but Rodriguez decided to leave after the first out.
Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. He’ll be released following this contest due to the stipulations that were laid out at Sunday’s press conference.
It’s not being called a retirement, because if he did truly retire, then he wouldn’t receive all the money that’s owed to him. Instead, they’re releasing him — and still paying him for the rest of this season and the rest of the 2017 season, which will include an ambassador, instructor, and special advisor role.
READ MORE: Click here for our latest Sports coverage
The slugger came to the team in 2004 following a trade with the Texas Rangers. Upon his arrival, he was the one who decided to move to third base — without the team asking him to move — because the franchise Derek Jeter was already at shortstop.
Yet, unlike his decision, the Yankees didn’t decide to give him the respect that he deserved with his final start like he had hoped.
Editorial Note: There are affiliated links on this page. We may receive compensation if you purchase a product through a link on our site. If you enjoy our work and would like to donate to support our coverage, you can do so through this PayPal link https://paypal.me/tcsrmedianj
Follow Us on Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Tumblr, YouTube, and TruthSocial
Check out our videos: Videos Keep Independent Journalism Alive! Ad-free experience and Exclusive Premium-plus content. Join our Paid Substack for additional content for $10 per month. This is ad-free content. We believe that what you read matters and great writing is valuable. Through Substack, writers can flourish by being paid directly by their readers.© 2007-2025 The Capital Sports Report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed.
