Rod released by Yankees, who owe him $27 million more

In a 4-for-47 funk, Rodriguez started for just the third time in 19 games, the 2,784th and perhaps final regular-season appearance in a career that started with Seattle in 1994, moved on to Texas in 2001 and then NY three years later.

Last week, Mark Teixeira declared that this would be his final season, as the former fearless and now 36-year-old first baseman has struggled to a.197 batting average with just 28 RBIs this year.

He succeeded in that regard, as Rodriguez repeatedly said he was “grateful” to Girardi for letting him play an out at third base in the ninth after their relationship became strained in public. “I feel for him [and] that he’s not going out a champion and not going out on a 30-home run season”. But owner Hal Steinbrenner told him on August 3 the end was at hand, and Rodriguez said last Sunday he had accepted an offer to play one final home game and then become a team adviser through 2017, tasked with mentoring young players. “Me and Alex have been through a lot together, and I have really strong feelings for him, and this has been extremely hard”.

With the game won, Rodriguez was given the ball, hugged his team-mates, grabbed a handful of dirt, raised his cap and walked to the dugout, before covering his face with a towel.

Athletics 6, Mariners 3: Yonder Alonso hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the sixth inning off rookie Joe Wieland, and Oakland ended Seattle’s six-game winning streak. Dellin Betances got the save. He won three Most Valuable Player awards. A-Rod had criticized GIRARDI for benching him most of the past month. One is to win games and two is to entertain.

But that stall was hours from being vacated.

He finished the game 1-for-4. Amidst previous rumors that the Yankees might release him, Rodriguez chose to play one more week and hang it up as much on his own terms as possible.

“We’ve always talked about offense and defense, starting in spring training a year ago, and he’s always talked to us about how to be a better player. I wanted it to be something”, Giradi said.

New York’s move leaves the team responsible for $27,103,825 remaining in his $275 million, 10-year contract.

“I’m going to need a long nap and recover and I want to see where life takes me”, he said, “but right now I think I value wearing this uniform, and for me the Yankees pinstripes is enough”.

Having seen his lights go down on Broadway, is Miami 2017 in his future?

The 41-year-old hit 696 home runs – fourth on the all-time list – but was given a 162-game doping ban in 2014.

“I can’t do that anymore”, Rodriguez remembered telling him.

With no more batting practice to take, he planned to watch the Yankees on television Sunday. “And I was all on board”, Headley said.