A Quiet Ending to Alex Rodriguez’s Polarizing Career

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees announced today that Friday, August 12th will be his final MLB game. A smart, savvy player, Rodriguez will leave behind a career filled with excitement and controversy.

It was February 15, 2004, when the New York Yankees had made another move for a superstar with an ego, effectively fulfilling the “Evil Empire” mantra. Sure, it wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary, they’re the Yankees, they’re supposed to do that kind of stuff.

Except this time it was different.

Alex Rodriguez was coming off an MVP season with the Texas Rangers, a team that was looking to move his 10 year, $252 million deal. When the Yankees had the open spot, they pounced. He was the best player in baseball. He didn’t have any blemishes on his record, yet.

After four All-Star appearances and two AL MVP’s, Rodriguez was rewarded with another megadeal, to the tune of 10 years, $275 million. At 32 years old, Rodriguez was the best player in baseball, certainly deserving of the money, but maybe not the years.

Then in 2009, the biggest blow to Rodriguez’s career came, when allegations of steroid use 2001-2003 season’s appeared in the rumor mill. The worst part is, they were true, as he admitted to doping. Despite the steroid confession, and hatred from the rest of baseball, Rodriguez went on to put up phenomenal in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. It appeared that the steroid blemish was a tough one to overcome, but maybe the 2009 World Series Championship would ease the damage done.

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The injuries came in 2011, and from there, A-Rod’s career was never really the same. He played just 265 games from 2011 to 2013 and was an afterthought. He didn’t bring the same excitement or intimidation he once did. He was old. He was broken down.

In 2013, when he was a central figure in the Biogenesis scandal, his downfall didn’t appear to be looking any brighter. He was promptly handed the largest suspension in baseball history, and sat out the entire 2014 season. It truly looked as if Alex Rodriguez’s time in the limelight was over, once and for all. 

He defied all odds, when in 2015, he experienced a resurgent campaign and led the Yankees into the promised land, the playoffs. Many Yankees fans have forgiven him now, but most in baseball, excluding players, have not forgiven him for his tarnished record and lies.

That has all led up to where we stand now. It seemed clear that sooner or later, he wouldn’t last all 2016 as a New York Yankee. His play time was drastically reduced, and his performance signaled he didn’t have much left.

Next: The Long Goodbye to A-Rod

After an emotional exit from the game he has loved, and thrived in, Alex Rodriguez leaves behind a legacy that will forever be debated. One thing that cannot be questioned is his biggest achievement.

Being humbled by the very sport that made him the person he is.