View source for Alex Rodriguez

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1975)}}
{{About|the baseball player|others of the same name|Alex Rodriguez (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name        = Alex Rodriguez
| image       = Alex Rodriguez crop.jpg
| caption     = Rodriguez in 2015
| width       = 
| position    = [[Shortstop]] / [[Third baseman]]
| bats        = Right
| throws      = Right
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|7|27}}
| birth_place = [[Manhattan]], New York City, U.S.
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate   = July 8
| debutyear   = 1994
| debutteam   = Seattle Mariners
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate   = August 12
| finalyear   = 2016
| finalteam   = New York Yankees
| statleague  = MLB
| stat1label  = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value  = .295
| stat2label  = [[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
| stat2value  = 3,115
| stat3label  = [[Home run]]s
| stat3value  = 696
| stat4label  = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat4value  = 2,086
| teams       =
* [[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|2000}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2001}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2013}}, {{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}}) <!--Per discussion at WP:BASEBALL, do not add 2014 MLB season.-->
| awards      =
* 14× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1996 MLB All-Star Game|1996]]–[[1998 MLB All-Star Game|1998]], [[2000 MLB All-Star Game|2000]]–[[2008 MLB All-Star Game|2008]], [[2010 MLB All-Star Game|2010]], [[2011 MLB All-Star Game|2011]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2009}})
* 3× [[AL MVP]] (2003, 2005, 2007)
* 2× [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Award]]  (2002, 2003)
* 10× [[Silver Slugger Award]]  (1996, 1998–2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
* 4× [[AL Hank Aaron Award]]  (2001–2003, 2007)
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|MLB batting champion]] (1996)
* 5× [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|AL home run leader]] (2001–2003, 2005, 2007)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|MLB RBI leader]] (2002, 2007)
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[18U Baseball World Cup|World Junior Baseball Championship]]}}
{{MedalSilver | {{baseball year|1992}} [[Monterrey]] | [[United States national under-18 baseball team|Team]]}}
}}

'''Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez''' (born July 27, 1975), nicknamed "'''A-Rod'''", is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[shortstop]] and [[third baseman]] and current [[businessman]]. Rodriguez played 22 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Seattle Mariners]] (1994–2000), [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] (2001–2003), and [[New York Yankees]] (2004–2013, 2015–2016). Rodriguez is the [[chairman]] and [[chief executive officer]] of A-Rod Corp as well as the chairman of [[Presidente (beer)|Presidente]] beer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Swant |first=Marty |date=January 23, 2020 |title=Alex Rodriguez Joins Presidente As Chairman And Co-Owner To Pitch Dominican Beer To The Masses |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/martyswant/2020/01/23/alex-rodriguez-joins-presidente-as-chairman-and-co-owner-to-pitch-dominican-beer-to-the-masses/ |access-date=August 16, 2020 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref> He owns a controlling interest in the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] with [[Marc Lore]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=Statement on Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Arbitration Ruling |url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/statement-on-minnesota-timberwolves-and-lynx-arbitration-ruling |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=NBA |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez began his professional baseball career as one of the sport's most highly touted prospects, and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.<ref>{{cite web|author=Barra|first=Allen|date=August 22, 2006|title=Atlas slugged|url=http://villagevoice.com/nyclife/0635,barra,74310,15.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505102105/http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0635%2Cbarra%2C74310%2C15.html|archive-date=May 5, 2008|access-date=March 11, 2014|work=[[The Village Voice]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=McNeal|first=Stan|date=April 5, 2004|title=Alex the greatest for the second straight year, general managers put A-Rod at the top of our list of baseball's 50 best players|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_14_228/ai_114985740|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713020508/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_14_228/ai_114985740|archive-date=July 13, 2006|access-date=March 11, 2014|work=[[Sporting News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Graves|first=Gary|date=July 9, 2002|title=Players tab Bonds as game's best player|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/02allstar/2002-07-09-survey.htm|access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref>

With a career .295 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]], Rodriguez amassed over 600 [[home run]]s (696), over 2,000 [[run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBI), over 2,000 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]], over 3,000 [[Hit (baseball)|hits]], and over 300 [[stolen base]]s, the only player in MLB history to achieve all of those feats. He was also a 14-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], winning three [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards]], 10 [[Silver Slugger Award]]s, and two [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Awards]]. Rodriguez is also the career record holder for [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slams]]. During the 2000s decade, Rodriguez led all players in home runs (435), runs batted in (1,243), runs scored (1,190), and [[total bases]] (3,362). Rodriguez is ranked first in career [[wins above replacement]] for shortstops of the modern era (post–1901).<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_SS.shtml|title = Shortstop JAWS Leader|access-date = August 10, 2023|website = baseball-reference.com}}</ref>

The Mariners selected Rodriguez [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall]] in the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft|1993 MLB draft]], and he debuted in the major leagues the following year at the age of 18. In 1996, he became the Mariners' starting shortstop, won the major league [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting title]], and finished second in voting for the AL MVP Award. His combination of power, speed, and defense made him a cornerstone of the franchise, but he left the team via free agency after the 2000 season to join the Rangers. The 10-year, $252&nbsp;million contract he signed was the richest in baseball history at the time. He played at a high level in his three years with Texas, highlighted by his first AL MVP Award win in 2003, but the team failed to make the playoffs during his tenure. Before the 2004 season, Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees, for whom he converted to a third baseman to accommodate their shortstop [[Derek Jeter]]. He was named AL MVP in 2005 and 2007. He opted out of his contract after the 2007 season, then signed a new 10-year, $275&nbsp;million deal with the Yankees, breaking his own record for the sport's most lucrative contract.<ref>{{cite web|author=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=December 13, 2007|title=Yankees finalize deal with A-Rod|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071213&content_id=2324707&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215223720/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071213&content_id=2324707&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=December 15, 2007|access-date=March 11, 2014|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He became the youngest player to hit [[500 home run club|500 home runs]], reaching the milestone in 2007. He helped the Yankees win the [[2009 World Series]] over the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], which was Rodriguez's only championship title. Toward the end of his career, he was hampered by hip and knee injuries, which caused him to become exclusively a designated hitter.<ref name="DH"/> He played his final game in professional baseball on August 12, 2016.

Despite denying in a 2007 interview that he had ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Rodriguez admitted in 2009 to having used [[steroids]], saying he used them from 2001 to 2003 when playing for the Rangers due to "an enormous amount of pressure" to perform.<ref name="ESPNadmission">{{cite news|last=Gammons|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Gammons|date=February 9, 2009|title=A-Rod admits, regrets use of PEDs|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3894847|url-status=live|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211024425/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3894847|archive-date=February 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="NYTadmission">{{cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|date=February 9, 2009|title=Rodriguez Admits to Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/sports/baseball/10rodriguez.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402052853/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/sports/baseball/10rodriguez.html|archive-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> While recovering from a hip injury in 2013, Rodriguez made headlines by feuding with team management over his rehabilitation and for having allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs as part of the [[Biogenesis scandal]]. In August 2013, MLB announced a 211-game suspension for Rodriguez for his involvement in the scandal.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Passan|first1=Jeff|last2=Brown|first2=Tim|date=August 4, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez to play for Yankees while he appeals impending MLB suspension|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/alex-rodriguez-to-play-for-yankees-while-he-appeals-impending-mlb-suspension-004223046.html|access-date=August 13, 2013|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=}}</ref> After an arbitration hearing, the suspension was reduced to 162 games, which kept him off the field for the entire 2014 season.<ref name="162games">{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=January 11, 2014|title=A-Rod to miss all of 2014 season|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10278277/alex-rodriguez-suspension-reduced-162-games|access-date=March 11, 2014|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

After retiring as a player, Rodriguez became a media personality, serving as a broadcaster for [[Fox Sports 1]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|author=|date=March 7, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez joins Fox Sports as full-time MLB analyst|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/03/07/alex-rodriguez-fox-sports-mlb-analyst|access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref> a cast member of ''[[Shark Tank]]''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gleeson|first=Scott|date=May 16, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez joining 'Shark Tank' as guest judge in the fall|language=en|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/05/16/alex-rodriguez-joining-shark-tank-judge/101740454/|access-date=September 5, 2017}}</ref> and a member of the [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] network.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gartland|first=Dan|date=May 27, 2017|title=Report: Alex Rodriguez to join ABC News|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/05/27/alex-rodriguez-abc-news-good-morning-america-television|access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, [[ESPN]] announced that Rodriguez would be joining the broadcast team of ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/01/23/alex-rodriguez-added-espn-sunday-night-baseball/yK1G85ciGsJveZGFaKAwEJ/story.html |title=Alex Rodriguez added to ESPN's 'Sunday Night Baseball' crew |first=Chad |last=Finn |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=January 23, 2018 |access-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> In January 2017, [[CNBC]] announced Rodriguez would be the host of the show ''[[Back in the Game (2019 TV series)|Back in the Game]]'', where he would help former athletes make a comeback in their personal lives; the first episode debuted on the network in March 2018.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 17, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez to host CNBC reality show featuring cash-strapped former athletes|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18495268/alex-rodriguez-host-cnbc-reality-show-featuring-cash-strapped-former-athletes|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rodriguez was born in 1975 in the [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] section of Manhattan to [[List of Dominican Republic people|Dominican]] immigrants Víctor Manuel Rodríguez Marcano and Lourdes Nelly Navarro Melo from [[San Juan de la Maguana]], Dominican Republic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://momentodeportivord.com/alex-rodriguez-y-sus-familiares-de-santiago-rd/ | title=Alex Rodríguez y sus familiares de Santiago RD | date=September 10, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Finnigan|first=Bob|date=March 22, 1998|title=Missing Dad – In The 13 Years Since His Father Left, Alex Rodriguez Has Found Fortune And Fame In Seattle, But Has Been Unable To Reconcile With The Man Who Vanished|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980322/2741045/missing-dad----in-the-13-years-since-his-father-left-alex-rodriguez-has-found-fortune-and-fame-in-seattle-but-has-been-unable-to-reconcile-with-the-man-who-vanished|access-date=February 11, 2018|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|location=Seattle, Washington}}</ref> He was raised alongside his two half-siblings, Joe and Suzy, from his mother's first marriage.<ref>{{cite news|author=Curry|first=Jack|date=September 4, 2007|title=Alex and Victor Rodriguez Are Worlds Apart|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/sports/baseball/04rodriguez.html|access-date=February 11, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 1979, when he was four years old, the family moved to the Dominican Republic, then to [[Miami]], Florida, when he was in the [[Fourth grade#United States' equivalent|fourth grade]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Alex Rodriguez Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/16/us/alex-rodriguez-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=25 July 2022 |publisher=CNN |date=16 August 2013 |language=en}}</ref> His father played baseball for a team in the Dominican Republic and introduced him to the sport as a child. Growing up, Rodriguez's favorite baseball players were [[Keith Hernandez]], [[Dale Murphy]], and [[Cal Ripken Jr.]], and his favorite team was the [[New York Mets]].<ref name="Jockbio">{{cite web|date=July 27, 1975|title=Alex Rodriguez|url=http://jockbio.com/Bios/ARod/ARod_bio.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820044819/http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/ARod/ARod_bio.html|archive-date=August 20, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=Jockbio|publisher=}}</ref>

At the end of his freshman year at [[Christopher Columbus High School (Miami-Dade County, Florida)|Christopher Columbus High School]] in Miami, Rodriguez transferred to [[Westminster Christian School (Florida)|Westminster Christian School]] in [[Palmetto Bay, Florida]], where he was a star shortstop on the baseball team and played quarterback on the football team.<ref name="Jockbio" /> In 100 games he batted .419 with 90 stolen bases. Westminster won the high school national championship in his junior year. He was first team prep All-American as a senior, [[batting average (baseball)|hitting]] .505 with nine [[home run]]s, 36 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs), and 35 [[stolen base]]s in 35 attempts in 33 games. He was selected as the [[USA Baseball]] Junior Player of the Year and as [[Gatorade]]'s national baseball student-athlete of the year. In 1993, Rodriguez became the first high school player to try out for the [[United States national baseball team]]. He was regarded as the top prospect in the country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Berg |first=Ted |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/alex-rodriguez-high-school-photo-tbt-mlb-new-york-yankees-retirement |title=A-Rod celebrates final Throwback Thursday of his MLB career |magazine=[[USA Today Sports Weekly]] |date=August 11, 2016 |access-date=December 12, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGuire |first=Justin |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-draft-alex-rodriguez-derek-jeter-scouting-report/10v1mr134001r11f4wx3y0eaxk |title=1993 scouting report: A-Rod 'similar to Jeter only bigger and better' |newspaper=[[Sporting News]] |date=June 3, 2014 |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212215858/http://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-draft-alex-rodriguez-derek-jeter-scouting-report/10v1mr134001r11f4wx3y0eaxk |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Rodriguez signed a letter of intent to play baseball for [[University of Miami]] and was also recruited by Miami to play quarterback for [[Miami Hurricanes football|its football team]]. Rodriguez turned down the [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|University of Miami baseball]] scholarship offer and never played [[college baseball]], opting instead to sign with the [[Seattle Mariners]] after being selected first overall in the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft|1993 amateur draft]] at the age of 17.<ref name="b-r draft">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?year_ID=1993&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |title=1st Round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Draft and minor leagues===
The [[Seattle Mariners]] selected Rodriguez with the [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall selection]] of the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="b-r draft" /> The Mariners signed him to a three-year contract worth $1.3&nbsp;million, and a $1&nbsp;million [[signing bonus]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vecsey |first=David |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/sports/baseball/choosing-to-remember-rodriguez-as-an-18-year-old.html|title=Choosing to Remember Rodriguez as an 18-Year-Old|date=August 3, 2013|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2018 }}</ref>

===Seattle Mariners===
====1994–1995====
In 1994, Rodriguez made his professional baseball debut as a [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] player with the [[Appleton Foxes]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[Midwest League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Team History – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41061520|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> He was promoted to the [[Jacksonville Suns]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]]. He played in 17 games for Jacksonville, then was promoted to Calgary for 32 games before moving up to the major leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rodrig006ale|title=Alex Rodriguez Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=July 3, 2011|title=Five former Jacksonville Suns on All-Star Game rosters|url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/baseball/2011-07-03/story/five-former-jacksonville-suns-all-star-game-rosters|access-date=August 7, 2016|work=[[The Florida Times-Union]]}}</ref> On July 8, 1994, Rodriguez debuted in the major leagues as a starting shortstop, just the third 18-year-old major league shortstop since 1900.<ref name="b-r">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrial01.shtml |title=Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Edes|first=Gordon|date=June 23, 1996|title=Around The American League|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-06-23/sports/9606220258_1_mike-henneman-cruz-lousy-job|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429191633/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-06-23/sports/9606220258_1_mike-henneman-cruz-lousy-job|archive-date=April 29, 2014|access-date=April 29, 2014|website=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|publisher=}}</ref> He was also the first 18-year-old major league player since 1978 and the youngest position player in Seattle history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carson |first=Alex |title=MLB Power Rankings: The 50 Greatest Players in Seattle Mariners History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/587134-mlb-power-rankings-the-50-greatest-players-in-seattle-mariners-history |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> He remains the last 18-year-old to play in an MLB game, as of the end of the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Youngest |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/Youngest_leagues.shtml |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez recorded his first major league hit when he singled off of [[Sergio Valdez]] on July 9 at [[Fenway Park]].<ref name="b-r first hit">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199407090.shtml|title=July 9, 1994 Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> Rodriguez played in 17 games for the Mariners, compiling a .204 batting average, two RBIs, and three stolen bases. In August, The Mariners [[option (baseball)|optioned]] Rodriguez to the [[Calgary Cannons]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL).<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Wayne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrX1RfqAJo8C|title=Alex Rodriguez: A Biography|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|isbn=9780313339752|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Glew|first=Kevin|date=October 19, 2012|title=CBN: Looking back on A-Rod's Calgary days|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/alex-rodriguez-memories-from-calgary-days/|access-date=October 19, 2012|website=[[Sportsnet]]}}</ref> In 32 games for Calgary, he had 37 hits in 119 at-bats for a .311 batting average. He also compiled six home runs and 21 RBIs.<ref name="b-r minors">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rodrig006ale |title=Alex Rodriguez Minor League Statistics and History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Alex Rodriguez Cannons 1.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Rodriguez batting for the [[Calgary Cannons]] in 1994]]
Rodriguez split most of the 1995 season between the Mariners and the [[Tacoma Rainiers]] of the PCL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rockne |first=Dick |date=April 24, 1996 |title=Hard-Working Rodriguez Could Be No. 1 Wunderkind {{!}} The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960424/2325739/hard-working-rodriguez-could-be-no-1-wunderkind |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Corey |title=Rodriguez Has No Doubt He Should Stay In Seattle |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/jun/15/rodriguez-has-no-doubt-he-should-stay-in-seattle/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 15, 1995 |agency=The News Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Alan |title=Alex Rodríguez |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/alex-rodriguez/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He hit his first major league home run off Kansas City's [[Tom Gordon]] on June 12. Rodriguez permanently joined the Mariners roster in August and got his first taste of postseason play, albeit just two at-bats. Again, he was the youngest player in Major League Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1995-other-leaders.shtml |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> During the 1995 season, Rodriguez played 48 games for Seattle, batting .232 with five home runs, 19 RBI, and four stolen bases.<ref name="b-r" />

====1996–1997====
The following year, Rodriguez took over as the Mariners' regular [[shortstop]] and had his breakout season. He led the [[American League]] (AL) with a .358 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], the highest for an AL right-handed batter since [[Joe DiMaggio]] hit .381 in 1939 and the third-highest ever for a shortstop. He also had 36 home runs with 123 RBIs.<ref name="ap081216">{{cite news|last=Fusaro|first=Nick|date=August 12, 2016|title=Unlike Jeter, A-Rod leaves Yankees without fans' love|url=http://news10.com/2016/08/12/unlike-jeter-a-rod-leaves-yankees-without-fans-love/|access-date=August 12, 2016|work=[[WTEN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> At 21 years and one month, he was the 3rd youngest AL batting leader ever behind [[Al Kaline]] (20) in 1955 and [[Ty Cobb]] (20) in 1907, and the third-youngest player in history with 35+ homers. He was also the first major league shortstop to win a [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting title]] since 1960, and the first in the AL since 1944. At age 20 years, 11 months, he was the youngest shortstop in [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] history. He also led the AL in runs (141), total bases (379), and [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (54) and ranked among the league leaders in base hits (second, 215), extra-base hits (second, 91), multi-hit games (third, 65), slugging (fourth, .631), RBI (eighth, 123), and on-base percentage (eighth, .414). Rodriguez posted the highest totals ever for a shortstop in runs, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, and slugging, and tied most total bases, and established Seattle club records for average, runs, hits, doubles, and total bases, in a season that statistical analysts consider the best ever by a shortstop.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sheehan|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Sheehan (journalist)|date=September 7, 2001|title=Aurilia makes sure Giants aren't one-man show|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/bp/1249068.html|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

The ''[[Sporting News]]'' and [[Associated Press]] selected Rodriguez as their Major League Player of the Year. He finished second to [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]] in balloting for the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]]. He finished three points behind González (290–287), matching the second closest AL MVP voting in history.<ref name="b-r 96 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml |title=1996 Awards Voting |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 1997, Rodriguez batted .300 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs. He [[hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] on June 5, becoming the second Mariner, and at 21 years, 10 months, the fifth-youngest player in history, to accomplish the feat.<ref name="b-r cycle">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET199706050.shtml |title=June 5, 1997 Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> He was the fan's choice to start the [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] at shortstop for the AL team, becoming the first player other than Ripken to start at shortstop in 13 years. It was the first All-Star start of his career and his second All-Star Game in two years.<ref name="b-r 97 All-Star">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1997-other-leaders.shtml |title=1997 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

====1998–2000====
Rodriguez rebounded in 1998, when he set the AL record for homers by a shortstop and became just the third member of the [[40–40 club]], (with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases) and one of just 3 shortstops in history to hit 40 home runs in a season. His 43.9 [[Power-speed number]] was, through at least 2008, the highest single season Power/Speed Number ever.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Power-Speed #|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/power_speed_number_leagues.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814001336/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/power_speed_number_leagues.shtml|archive-date=August 14, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> He was selected as Players Choice AL Player of the Year,<ref name="player's choice">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_plch.shtml|title=Players Choice Awards|website=[[Baseball Almanac]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> won his second [[Silver Slugger Award]],<ref name="b-r 98 Silver Slugger">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1998-other-leaders.shtml|title=1998 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> and finished ninth in the MVP voting.<ref name="b-r 98 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml|title=1998 Awards Voting|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 1999, Rodriguez had a .310 average, 42 home runs, and 111 RBIs,<ref name="b-r" /> despite missing over 30 games with an injury and playing the second half of the season at [[Safeco Field]],<ref name="Safeco open">{{cite web|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9565|last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |title=Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners' long-sought stadium, opens on July 15, 1999 |date=September 11, 2010 |website=[[HistoryLink.org]] |access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> a considerably less hitter-friendly ballpark than the [[Kingdome]].<ref name="sea park factors">{{cite web|title=Seattle Mariners – Stadium|url=http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Sea/#analysis|access-date=March 12, 2014|website=Baseball-Statistics.com|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618212834/http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Sea/#analysis|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, he was the youngest-ever player to record 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases, at 23 years and 309 days of age.<ref name=alden/> In April 2015, [[Mike Trout]] reached the same milestone at 23 years and 253 days old.<ref name=alden>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/angels-outfielder-mike-trout-smashes-100th-career-home-run/c-118949336|title=Trout goes deep; youngest to 100 HRs, 100 SBs|first=Alden|last=Gonzalez|date=April 18, 2015|access-date=April 18, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418110737/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/118949336/angels-outfielder-mike-trout-smashes-100th-career-home-run|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rodriguez entered 2000 as the cornerstone player of the Mariners franchise,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-03-19 |title=Mariners' Rodriguez plans to take charge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-mariners-rodrigue/148786070/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=[[Portland Press Herald]] |pages=6D |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> which had recently traded superstars [[Randy Johnson]] and [[Ken Griffey Jr.]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|date=April 27, 2001|title=Retooled Mariners building a winner|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2001/04/27/retooled-mariners-building-a-winner/|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=}}</ref> Rodriguez put up great numbers, hitting 41 home runs with 132 RBIs and a .316 batting average.<ref name="b-r" /> He set a career high for [[Base on balls|walks]] (100) and became the only shortstop to have 100 runs, RBI, and walks in the same season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hartnett|first=Sean|date=August 2, 2013|title=Hartnett: A-Rod Could Have Been King, Instead Leaves Behind Shattered Legacy|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/02/hartnett-a-rod-could-have-been-king-instead-leaves-behind-shattered-legacy/|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[CBS New York]]|publisher=}}</ref> He hit well in the playoffs as well (.409 batting average and .773 slugging percentage),<ref name="b-r" /> but Seattle lost to the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[2000 American League Championship Series]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd|first=Kevin|date=July 24, 2012|title=For the Seattle Mariners, it's the end of the Ichiro Era|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2012/07/24/for-the-seattle-mariners-its-the-end-of-the-ichiro-era/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727013419/http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2012/07/24/for-the-seattle-mariners-its-the-end-of-the-ichiro-era/|archive-date=July 27, 2012|access-date=April 27, 2014|website=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|publisher=}}</ref> He was selected as the Major League Player of the Year by ''[[Baseball America]]'' and finished third in the AL MVP voting.<ref name="b-r 2000 MVP">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2000.shtml|title=2000 Awards Voting|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers===
Rodriguez became a [[free agent]] after the 2000 season. He eventually signed with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], who had fallen to last place in their division in 2000. The contract was at the time the most lucrative contract in sports history: a 10-year deal worth $252&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|252|2000}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). The deal was worth $63&nbsp;million more than the second-richest baseball deal.<ref name="ARodRangers">{{cite news|author=Reid|first=Jason|date=December 12, 2000|title=Texas-Sized Deal|periodical=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-12-sp-64536-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204025804/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/12/sports/sp-64536|archive-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> The contract was highly criticized, because it tied up valuable payroll space that could have been spent to improve other areas, such as pitching.<ref>{{cite book|last=Coppedge|first=Clay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_iozvgAACAAJ|title=Texas Baseball: A Lone Star Diamond History from Town Teams to the Big Leagues|publisher=[[The History Press]]|year=2012|isbn=9781609495985|page=151}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Engel|first=Jen Floyd|date=July 29, 2013|title=Mega-deal doomed A-Rod from start|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/alex-rodriguez-downfall-began-with-252-million-texas-rangers-contract-072913|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801164158/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/alex-rodriguez-downfall-began-with-252-million-texas-rangers-contract-072913|archive-date=August 1, 2013|access-date=April 27, 2014|work=[[Fox Sports]]}}</ref> [[Dave McNally]], one of the players who had successfully challenged the reserve clause in the 1970s to create free agency in baseball, said, "My first thought when I saw [reports that Rodriguez had signed] was: Did Texas offer him $250 million and he wanted two more? How did they get to $252 million?"<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=December 3, 2002|title=Dave McNally, 60, early free agent, dies|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/03/sports/dave-mcnally-60-early-free-agent-dies.html|access-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>

In an interview eight years later, Rodriguez said he regretted signing with the Texas Rangers and wished he had signed with the [[New York Mets]] instead, and that he had heeded the advice of his agent, [[Scott Boras]]. (See [[Alex Rodriguez#Opt-out controversy|Opt out controversy]].)<ref>{{cite news|last=Harper|first=John|date=March 24, 2008|title=A-Rod regrets saying no to Mets, doesn't make same mistake with Yankees|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York City|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/a-rod-regrets-no-mets-doesn-mistake-yankees-article-1.286061|access-date=August 18, 2012}}</ref>

====2001–2002====
Rodriguez's power-hitting numbers improved with his move to the Texas Rangers. In his first season there, Rodriguez produced one of the top offensive seasons ever for a shortstop, leading the American League with 52 home runs, 133 runs scored, and 393 total bases.<ref name="b-r" /> He became the first player since 1932 with 50 homers and 200 hits in a season, the third shortstop to ever lead the league in homers, and the second AL player in the last 34 seasons (beginning 1968) to lead the league in runs, homers, and total bases; his total base figure is the most ever for a major league shortstop. His 52 homers made him the sixth youngest to ever reach 50 homers and were the highest total ever by a shortstop, surpassing [[Ernie Banks]]' record of 47 in 1958, and also the most ever for an infielder other than a first baseman, breaking Phillies 3B [[Mike Schmidt]]'s mark of 48 in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_season.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620135024/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_season.shtml|archive-date=June 20, 2007|access-date=July 20, 2007|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> It was his fifth 30-homer campaign, tying Banks for most ever by a shortstop. He also tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (87) and ranked third in RBIs (135) and slugging (.622). He was also among the AL leaders in hits (fourth, 201), average (seventh, .318), and on-base percentage (eighth, .399). He established Rangers club records for homers, runs, total bases, and [[hit by pitch]]es, had the second-most extra-base hits, and the fourth-highest RBI total. He led the club in runs, hits, doubles (34), homers, RBI, slugging, and on-base percentage and was second in walks (75), stolen bases (18), and game-winning RBI (14) while posting career highs for homers, RBI, and total bases. Rodriguez started 161 games at shortstop and one as the [[Designated hitter|DH]], the only major league player to start all of his team's games in 2001.

Rodriguez followed the previous year with a major league-best 57 home runs, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases in 2002,<ref name="b-r" /> becoming the first player to lead the majors in all three categories since 1984. His nine home runs in April matched a team record that was shared (through 2008) with [[Iván Rodríguez]] (2000), [[Carl Everett]] (2003), and [[Ian Kinsler]] (2007). He had the sixth-most home runs in AL history, the most since [[Roger Maris]]' league record 61 in 1961 and the most ever for a shortstop for the second straight year. He won the [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]] for leading MLB in homers that season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sanchez|first=Jesse|date=May 23, 2003|title=Notes: Strength in the message|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030523&content_id=334171&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|url-status=dead|access-date=November 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114070315/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030523&content_id=334171&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|archive-date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> He also won his first [[Gold Glove Award]], awarded for outstanding defense.

His 109 home runs in 2001–02 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons. However, the Rangers finished last in the [[American League West|AL Western division]] in both years. He finished second in the MVP balloting to fellow shortstop [[Miguel Tejada]], whose 103-win [[Oakland Athletics]] won the same division.<ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2002.shtml|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

====2003====
The 2003 season was Rodriguez's last year with the Rangers. He led the American League in home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage, and won his second consecutive [[Gold Glove|Gold Glove Award]]. He also led the league in fewest at-bats per home run (12.9) and became the youngest player to hit 300 homers. He was tied with [[Jim Thome]] for the MLB lead in homers, and he won his second Babe Ruth Home Run Award.<ref name="morrissey">{{cite news|last=Morrissey|first=Michael|date=June 6, 2004|title=Hospital ward in Bronx|page=50|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|url=https://nypost.com/2004/06/06/hospital-ward-in-bronx/|access-date=November 8, 2011|quote=Before the game, Rodriguez received the Babe Ruth Award (for most homers in the majors last season) from Ruth's daughter and grandson.}}</ref><ref name="baberuthcentral">At the following webpage, '''''scroll down to''''' "The Babe Ruth Homerun Award". {{cite web|title=06 Fan Stories: Ultimate Babe Ruth Fans|url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/#HomeRun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915121619/http://baberuthcentral.com/Fan%20Stories/|archive-date=September 15, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2011|website=Babe Ruth Central|publisher=}}</ref>

Following five top-10 finishes in the AL MVP voting between 1996 and 2002, Rodriguez won his first MVP trophy. Rodriguez, a two-time runner up in the balloting by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]], joined outfielder [[Andre Dawson]] from the 1987 [[Chicago Cubs]] as the only players to play on last-place teams and win the award.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Perry|first=Dayn|date=November 17, 2016|title=Making the MVP case for Mike Trout and great players on bad teams|language=en|work=[[CBS Sports]]|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/making-the-mvp-case-for-mike-trout-and-great-players-on-bad-teams/|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>

Following the 2003 season, Texas set out to part ways with Rodriguez and his expensive contract. The Rangers initially agreed to a trade with the [[Boston Red Sox]], sending Rodriguez to Boston for [[Manny Ramirez]], 19-year old pitching prospect [[Jon Lester]], and cash considerations. However, the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]] vetoed the deal because it called for a voluntary reduction in salary by Rodriguez.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Jaffe|first=Jay|date=August 9, 2016|title=What if Alex Rodriguez had been traded to Boston?|language=en|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/08/09/alex-rodriguez-trade-red-sox-yankees-alternate-history|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> Despite the failed deal with the Red Sox, the Rangers named him [[captain (baseball)|team captain]] during that off-season.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 25, 2004|title=A-Rod: 'I feel a grand responsibility'|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1718315|access-date=December 9, 2017|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===New York Yankees===
[[File:Alex Rodriguez 2008-05-28.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Rodriguez took over at third base after he was traded to the Yankees in 2004.]]
Yankees third baseman [[Aaron Boone]] suffered a knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball that sidelined him for the entire 2004 season, creating a hole at third base.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 27, 2004|title=Yankees' Boone Is Injured|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-27-sp-newswire27-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On February 15, 2004, the Rangers traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for second baseman [[Alfonso Soriano]] and a player to be named later ([[Joaquín Árias (baseball)|Joaquín Árias]] was sent to the Rangers on March 24). The Rangers also agreed to pay $67&nbsp;million of the $179&nbsp;million left on Rodriguez's contract. Rodriguez agreed to switch positions from shortstop to third base, paving the way for the trade, because the popular [[Derek Jeter]] was already entrenched at shortstop. This was only the second time in MLB history that a reigning MVP was traded, with the first coming in 1914 when [[Eddie Collins]] was traded to the [[Chicago White Sox]] from the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Townsend|first1=Mark|date=November 16, 2017|title=How Giancarlo Stanton could join Alex Rodriguez in unique MVP category|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/giancarlo-stanton-first-mvp-immediately-traded-since-rod-012854010.html|access-date=November 17, 2017|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=}}</ref> Rodriguez also had to switch uniform numbers; he had worn 3 his entire career, but the number was retired by the Yankees in honor of [[Babe Ruth]]. Instead, Rodriguez chose to change his number to 13, in honor of [[Miami Dolphins]] quarterback [[Dan Marino]]. A Miami native himself, Rodriguez had grown up watching Marino and also wore number 13 when he played quarterback in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-a-rod-nfl-s-marino-legends-in-miami-c169449928|title=Yankees' A-Rod, NFL's Marino legends in Miami|first= Alfred  |last=Santasiere III|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2020|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

====2004====
During his first season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .286 with 36 home runs, 106 RBIs, 112 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.<ref name="b-r" /> He became one of only three players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in seven consecutive seasons, joining [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famers]] Babe Ruth and [[Jimmie Foxx]]. The 112 runs marked the ninth straight season in which he scored at least 100 runs, the longest such streak in the Major Leagues since [[Hank Aaron]] did it in 13 straight seasons from 1955 to 1967, and the longest in the American League since [[Mickey Mantle]] did it also in nine straight seasons from 1953 to 1961. During the 2004 season, he also became the youngest player ever to reach 350 home runs and the third youngest to reach 1,000 RBIs. He was elected to the 2004 American League All-Star Team, the eighth All-Star selection of his career and the first as a [[third baseman]]. On July 24, 2004, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch from [[Bronson Arroyo]], which led to a scuffle with [[Boston Red Sox]] catcher [[Jason Varitek]], and a bench-clearing brawl between both teams. On defense, he had the lowest range factor among non-[[platoon system|platoon]] AL third basemen (2.39) in his first year at the position.<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 3b – 2004|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/year/2004/position/3b/league/al/sort/rangeFactor/order/true|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> He finished 14th in balloting for the AL MVP Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

In the 2004 [[American League Division Series|ALDS]], Rodriguez was a dominant hitter against the [[Minnesota Twins]], batting .421 and slugging .737 while delivering two key extra-inning hits. Following the series win, Rodriguez's first season with the Yankees culminated in a dramatic playoff series against the team he had almost ended up playing for: the Yankees' bitter [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|rival]], the [[Boston Red Sox]]. In that series (ALCS) he equaled the single-game post-season record with five runs scored in Game 3 at Boston.

One of the most controversial plays of Rodriguez's career occurred late in Game 6 of the [[2004 American League Championship Series]]. With one out and [[Derek Jeter]] on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Rodriguez hit a slow roller between the pitcher's mound and the first-base line. Red Sox [[pitcher]] [[Bronson Arroyo]] fielded the ball and ran towards Rodriguez to apply a tag. As Arroyo reached towards him, Rodriguez swatted at his glove, knocking the ball loose. As the ball rolled away, Jeter scored all the way from first as Rodriguez took second on the play, which was initially ruled an error on Arroyo. However, the umpires quickly huddled, then ruled that Rodriguez was out for interference. Jeter was sent back to first base, and his run was nullified.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swan|first=Lisa|date=October 19, 2004|title=Greatest Moments at Yankee Stadium|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/the_greatest/notsogreat-a-rod-slap-play.html|url-status=dead|access-date=August 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723142910/http://www.nydailynews.com/features/thestadium/the_greatest/notsogreat-a-rod-slap-play.html|archive-date=July 23, 2010}}</ref> The Yankees would then lose the ALCS to the eventual [[2004 World Series|World Series]] champion Red Sox after leading the series three games to none.

====2005–2006====
In 2005, Rodriguez hit .321, leading the American League with 124 runs and 48 home runs while driving in 130 runs.<ref name="b-r" /> He became the first Yankee to win the American League home run title since [[Reggie Jackson]] (41) in 1980. He also became one of only two players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in eight consecutive seasons (Jimmie Foxx accomplished the feat in nine straight seasons from 1932 to 1940). Rodriguez established the franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a right-handed batter (broke [[Joe DiMaggio]]'s mark of 46 in 1937). His 47 home runs from the third base position are a single-season American League record. Rodriguez hit 26 home runs at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in 2005, establishing the single-season club record for right-handed batters (previously held by DiMaggio in 1937 and [[Gary Sheffield]] in 2004). On June 8, at 29 years, 316 days old, he became the youngest player in MLB history to reach the 400 home run mark. 2005 also marked the tenth straight season that Rodriguez scored at least 100 runs. On defense, however, he had the lowest range factor in the league at third for the second straight season (2.62).<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 3b – 2005|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/year/2005/position/3b/league/al/sort/rangeFactor/order/true|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

On April 26, Rodriguez hit three home runs off [[2005 Los Angeles Angels season|Angels]] pitcher [[Bartolo Colón]] and drove in 10 runs. The 10 RBIs were the most by a Yankee since [[Tony Lazzeri]] established the franchise and American League record with 11 on May 24, 1936. Rodriguez became the 11th major leaguer to accomplish the feat.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 26, 2005|title=A-Rod is just 11th big-leaguer with 10 or more RBI in one game|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250426110|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113202952/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250426110|archive-date=November 13, 2012|access-date=January 30, 2019|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez won his second [[American League MVP|AL MVP]] Award in three seasons, becoming the fifth player to win this award with two different teams, joining [[Mickey Cochrane]], Jimmie Foxx, [[Frank Robinson]] and Barry Bonds. He also became the first AL player from outside the [[American League West]] to win the award since [[Mo Vaughn]] of the [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] won in 1995. Rodriguez was also named the shortstop on the Major League Baseball [[Latino Legends Team]] in 2005.

[[File:Alex Rodriguez Talking.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Rodriguez reacting to a called strike in a game against Tampa Bay]]
Prior to the season, Rodriguez opted to play for [[United States national baseball team|Team USA]] in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic]].<ref name=espn20060107>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2295141 |title=A-Rod will play for U.S. in World Baseball Classic |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 17, 2006 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

Rodriguez was again an [[2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in 2006. His 2,000th hit, on July 21, 2006 − six days prior to his 31st birthday − was also his 450th home run. Rodriguez became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 450 home runs (surpassing [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], by 267 days), and the eighth player to reach 2,000 hits before turning 31. [[Ty Cobb]] reached the mark while still 29, while [[Rogers Hornsby]], [[Mel Ott]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Joe Medwick]], Jimmie Foxx, and [[Robin Yount]] all achieved their 2,000th hit at age 30. All seven are members of baseball's Hall of Fame.

For the season, Rodriguez finished fourth in the league in RBI (121), fifth in runs scored (113), eighth in home runs (35) and walks (90), and ninth in OBP (.392). He also led all AL third basemen in errors, with 24, and had the lowest fielding percentage (.937) and—for the third straight season—range factor (2.50) among them.<ref name="b-r" /> Rodriguez also became the second player in Major League history to record at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in nine consecutive seasons, joining Foxx. It was Rodriguez's 11th consecutive season with more than 100 runs scored, the longest such streak in American League history since [[Lou Gehrig]] did so in 13 straight seasons (1926–38). Despite this success, it was perceived as one of his lesser-accomplished seasons and was harshly criticized throughout the 2006 season. He has commented that 2006 was his most difficult season as a professional.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=November 16, 2006|title=Rodriguez says he's committed to Yankees|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/sports/baseball/16arod.html|access-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref>

====2007====
When Rodriguez reported to camp in 2007, he had reduced his [[body fat]] from 16% the year before to 9%. He made light of this fact during a ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' sketch that was filmed during Spring training, which featured him shirtless being rubbed down with suntan lotion. He revealed to the press that he and Jeter were no longer close friends.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 20, 2007|title=A-Rod: friendship with Jeter has cooled|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17227890|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101034524/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/17227890|archive-date=November 1, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2010|website=[[NBC Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Rodriguez also reduced his high leg kick at the plate, increasing his bat speed, making him less-apt to strike out and a more dangerous hitter.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=April 23, 2007|title=Fun while it lasts|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/04/23/scoop.monday/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427211846/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/04/23/scoop.monday/index.html|archive-date=April 27, 2007|access-date=April 27, 2007|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref>

In the Yankees' fourth game of the season, Rodriguez hit two home runs against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], including his 14th-career [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] to end the game. The [[walk-off home run|walk-off]] grand slam was the third of his career, tying the major league mark for game-ending grand slams shared by [[Vern Stephens]] and [[Cy Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=April 7, 2007|title=A-Rod rescues Yanks|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070407&content_id=1884768&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409021943/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070407&content_id=1884768&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=April 9, 2007|access-date=April 9, 2007|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=April 7, 2007|title=A-Rod blasts two homers, has six RBIs in Yankees win|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270407110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423165400/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270407110|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2007|access-date=April 7, 2007}}</ref> Rodriguez also began the season by becoming the ninth major leaguer—and first Yankee—to hit six home runs in the first seven games of the season. Rodriguez also became the first Yankee to hit seven home runs in the first ten games of the season.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 10, 2007|title=A-Rod sets tone early with sixth homer of season|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270410109|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526225511/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270410109|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 26, 2012|access-date=April 10, 2007}}</ref>

On April 23, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to hit 14 home runs in a span of 18 games, and also tied the MLB record for most home runs in April. His total of 34 RBIs in April was one short of [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]]'s AL and MLB record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/news/story?id=5188282|title=New York 500 Club: Alex Rodriguez|work=ESPN.com|date=May 15, 2010|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref> In a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 30, Rodriguez sparked controversy when he shouted during a routine play and an infielder let a pop fly drop, costing the Blue Jays three runs. The Yankees went on to win the game, 10–5.<ref>{{cite news|last=Picker|first=David|date=July 17, 2007|title=Rodriguez's Shouts Are History to Toronto|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/sports/baseball/17jays.html|access-date=May 30, 2010}}</ref> On July 12, Rodriguez hit his 150th career home run in a Yankees uniform. This made him the first, and so far only, player in major league history to ever hit 150 home runs for three different teams.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 5, 2010|title=A-Rod's homers blaze trail across baseball|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=13058148&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20100805|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184441/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=13058148&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20100805|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=August 18, 2012|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He became the third player to hit at least 100 home runs for three teams, following [[Reggie Jackson]] and [[Darrell Evans]].<ref>{{cite web|date=May 8, 2014|title=Rangers' Adrian Beltre Becomes 5th Player to Hit 100 Home Runs with 3 Teams|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2055966-rangers-adrian-beltre-becomes-5th-player-to-hit-100-home-runs-with-3-teams|access-date=December 1, 2018|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run against pitcher [[Kyle Davies (baseball)|Kyle Davies]] of the [[Kansas City Royals]] on August 4. Rodriguez became the youngest player ever to [[500 home run club|reach 500 home runs]] at 32 years, 8 days.<ref name="youngest500">{{cite news|date=August 4, 2007|title=Rodriguez becomes youngest in baseball history to hit 500 home runs|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/mlb/id/2961185|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309175625/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/mlb/id/2961185|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> He surpassed the nearly 67-year record held by [[Jimmie Foxx]], who hit his 500th home run at 32 years, 338 days during the final week of the 1940 major league baseball season.<ref name="youngest500"/> On September 25, Rodriguez became the fifth Major League player to record a 50-home run, 150-RBI season when he hit a grand slam.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 5, 2007|title=A-Rod Hits 500th HR As Yanks Beat Royals|url=http://channels.isp.netscape.com/sports/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-2011&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20070805%2F1015972261.htm&sc=2011&floc=NI-sp2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110184335/http://channels.isp.netscape.com/sports/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-2011&idq=%2Fff%2Fstory%2F0001%2F20070805%2F1015972261.htm&sc=2011&floc=NI-sp2|archive-date=January 10, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=Netscape Sports|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> As of 2025, Rodriguez is the most recent player to have recorded at least 150 RBIs in one season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Runs Batted In|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/RBI_leagues.shtml|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

[[File:A-Rod3.jpg|thumb|right|Rodriguez batting in 2007]]
In 2007, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in 10 consecutive seasons, surpassing Jimmie Foxx (nine consecutive seasons). He led the AL in home runs (54), RBIs (156), slugging percentage (.645), [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (1.067), total bases (376), and times on base (299), and was second in hit by pitch (21), extra-base hits (85), and at bats per home run (10.8), fourth in on-base percentage (.422) and sacrifice flies (9), seventh in walks (95) and plate appearances (708), eighth in intentional walks (11), and ninth in games (158).<ref name="b-r" /> He led MLB in home runs and won his third Babe Ruth Home Run Award.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 21, 2008|title=Giese Error Leads To Four-Run Seventh As Reds Blank Yanks|work=[[WPXI]]|publisher=[[The Sports Network (wire service)|The Sports Network]]|url=http://www.wpxi.com/mlb/16674416/detail.html|url-status=dead|access-date=November 8, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20111108215938/http://www.wpxi.com/mlb/16674416/detail.html|archive-date=November 8, 2011}}</ref>

After the season, Rodriguez was named the AL MVP for the third time in his career, receiving 26 first-place votes out of a possible 28.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 19, 2007|title=A-Rod wins third MVP but denied unanimous selection|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3119020|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He also won the Silver Slugger Award for his position,<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB – awards|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616041016/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa|archive-date=June 16, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[Yahoo!]]|publisher=}}</ref> the Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Player, and the Players Choice Award for Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109113047/https://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071027&content_id=2284247&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp|url=https://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071027&content_id=2284247&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp|title=A-Rod, Hunter earn top awards|work=MLB.com|date=October 27, 2007|archivedate=November 9, 2007|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>

====Opt-out controversy====
The 2007 season marked the last year of Rodriguez's 10-year, $252&nbsp;million contract before he opted out and became a free agent again. Rodriguez had repeatedly stated during the [[2007 MLB Season|2007 season]] that he would like to remain a Yankee for the rest of his career.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 24, 2007|title=A-Rod doesn't want to leave NY next season|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2848306|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On October 28, 2007, Rodriguez's agent, [[Scott Boras]], announced that he would not renew his contract with the Yankees citing that he "was unsure of the future composition" of the team. Because of the opt-out, the Yankees also lost $21.3 million in remaining payments from the Rangers as part of their agreement from the 2004 trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rodriguez opts out of $252 million, 10-year contract with Yanks |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3084583 |access-date=29 October 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=29 October 2007 |language=en}}</ref> Rodriguez received a slew of criticism from fans and writers alike not only for opting out, but also for not meeting with Yankee management before he did. He was further criticized for the timing of his announcement, during the eighth inning of Game 4 of the [[2007 World Series|World Series]], as the [[Boston Red Sox]] were wrapping up their victory over the [[Colorado Rockies]]; even MLB's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, called it an attempt by Boras to "try to put his selfish interests and that of one individual player above the overall good of the game."<ref>{{cite web|date=October 29, 2007|title=Yankees bid farewell to A-Rod after likely MVP opts out|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3085166|access-date=July 7, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Teammate [[Mariano Rivera]] convinced Rodriguez to contact the New York Yankees ownership.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=March 30, 2013|title=Hitched to an Aging Star: Anatomy of a Deal, and Doubts|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/sports/baseball/yankees-hitched-to-alex-rodriguez-an-aging-star-anatomy-of-a-deal-and-doubts.html|access-date=August 13, 2013}}</ref> He contacted them directly, bypassing Boras (Boras also apologized for the timing of the announcement). Subsequently, Rodriguez issued a statement on his website, saying that he wished to stay with the Yankees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arod.mlb.com/players/Rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407 |title=Official statement from Alex Rodriguez |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102160513/http://arod.mlb.com/players/Rodriguez_alex/article.jsp?story=111407 |archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> On November 15, 2007, the New York Yankees and Rodriguez agreed on the "basic framework" of a 10-year, $275&nbsp;million contract that would have him playing until he was 42.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barra|first=Allen|date=March 10, 2009|title=A-Rod, Superscar|url=http://www.observer.com/2009/rod-superscar?page=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626060214/http://www.observer.com/2009/rod-superscar?page=1|archive-date=June 26, 2009|access-date=March 11, 2009|website=[[New York Observer]]}}</ref> The contract, finalized December 13, included various multimillion-dollar incentives for breaking career home run milestones.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=November 26, 2007|title=Home runs could net A-Rod up to $30M in incentives|work=[[USA Today]]|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2007-11-25-arod-incentives_N.htm|access-date=April 28, 2010}}</ref>

====2008====
[[File:Alex Rodriguez 2008-04-19.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Rodriguez at bat in 2008]]
Rodriguez hit his 549th home run in a September 3, 2008, game against the [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]]. The opposing manager objected that the ball was foul, and for the first time in MLB history, [[Instant replay#Baseball|instant replay]] (a process officially introduced a few days earlier) was used to review the play and uphold the umpires' ruling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chastain|first=Bill|date=September 4, 2008|title=MLB official site: Instant replay used for first time|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080903&content_id=3412816&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906205739/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080903&content_id=3412816&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=September 6, 2008|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> He was one of only four batters in the AL to have at least 18 home runs and 18 stolen bases in both 2007 and 2008, along with [[Torii Hunter]], [[Ian Kinsler]], and [[Grady Sizemore]]. Rodriguez hit a home run every 14.6 at-bats in 2008, the second-best ratio on the team behind [[Jason Giambi]].<ref name="100random">{{cite web|last=Chuck|first=Bill|date=April 2, 2009|title=100 random things about the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405072934/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|archive-date=April 5, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2009|website=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Rodriguez played 138 games during the 2008 season with a .302 average, 35 home runs, 103 RBI, and an AL best .573 slugging percentage.<ref name="b-r" />

====Early 2009: Report of positive test for steroids====
On February 7, 2009, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' reported that Rodriguez tested positive for [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]] and the [[anabolic steroids|anabolic steroid]] [[Primobolan]] in 2003.<ref name="SIsteroids">{{cite magazine|last1=Robers|first1=Selena|last2=Epstein|first2=David|date=February 7, 2009|title=Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208115937/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/index.html|archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> Rodriguez's name appears on a government-sealed list of 104 major-league players (out of 1200 tested<ref name="Glanville"/>) who came up positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The report was compiled as part of Major League Baseball's 2003 survey to determine whether a mandatory random drug testing program might be necessary. At the time, there was no penalty or punishment for a positive steroid test. Rodriguez did not immediately confirm the allegations, deferring at first to the players' union.<ref name="SIsteroids"/><ref name="NYTsteroids"/> Two days after the allegations, Rodriguez admitted to steroid use from 2001 until 2003, claiming that he ceased using such substances after spring training that year.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/><ref name="NYTadmission"/>

====2009 regular season====
Prior to the 2009 season, Rodriguez was scheduled to represent the Dominican Republic in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]], but he was forced to withdraw when an MRI revealed a [[cyst]] in his right hip. When he went to have the cyst drained, it was discovered that he was also suffering from a [[acetabular labrum|torn labrum]] in the same hip. Rodriguez opted to undergo an arthroscopic procedure with a recovery period of six to nine weeks, instead of the usual three to four months.<ref name="surgery">{{cite web|date=March 8, 2009|title=A-Rod to have arthroscopic hip surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3961898|access-date=June 4, 2009|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> Although the procedure should have allowed him to make it through the season without any complications, he required a second, more extensive surgery in the off-season.<ref name="surgery"/>

After missing [[spring training]] and the first month of the season, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in a May 8 game against the [[2009 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] and hit a three-run home run on the first pitch of his first at-bat.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=May 8, 2009|title=CC goes distance to stop Yanks' skid|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=4626340&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512173139/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=4626340&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=May 12, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> The Yankees had stumbled to a 13–15 record in Rodriguez's absence, and his return fortified the lineup and provided much-needed protection for three-hole hitter [[Mark Teixeira]], who was a notoriously slow starter. Rodriguez also supplied some late-game heroics. On May 16, his two-run [[walk-off home run]] in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Yankees a 6–4 win over the [[2009 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ghiroli|first=Brittany|date=May 16, 2009|title=Yanks walk off on A-Rod's tater in 11th|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090516&content_id=4769496&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520012723/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090516&content_id=4769496&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=May 20, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> One week later, he hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off [[2009 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] closer [[Brad Lidge]] in a game the Yankees would go on to win, 5–4.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 23, 2009|title=A-Rod homers to tie, Cabrera singles for victory as Lidge falls to 0-2|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290523110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002054819/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290523110|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref>

By early June, the Yankees had surged to first place in the [[AL East]]. The club's fortunes changed later in the month, when Rodriguez fell into a slump that saw his batting average plummet as the Yankees fell to second place. On June 23, Rodriguez became the eighth active player to reach 8,000 career at-bats in the seventh inning of the Yankees and Braves game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 24, 2009|title=With each passing day, Joba maturing|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090623&content_id=5481638&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106053137/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090623&content_id=5481638&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=November 6, 2012|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> On June 25, Rodriguez belted homer 563 of his career, off [[2009 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] starter [[Derek Lowe]], and tying [[Reggie Jackson]] for 11th on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 25, 2009|title=Recharged A-Rod carries Yankees|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090625&content_id=5523840&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628155400/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090625&content_id=5523840&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=June 28, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> On June 26, Rodriguez surpassed Jackson for 11th on the all-time home run list, against the [[2009 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in the [[Subway Series]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Diamond|first=Jared|date=June 27, 2009|title=A-Rod passes Reggie with No. 564|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5554188&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629133214/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090626&content_id=5554188&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=June 29, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> and against the Angels on July 11, Rodriguez passed [[Rafael Palmeiro]] for 10th place;<ref>{{cite web|author=Roberts|first=Quinn|date=July 11, 2009|title=A-Rod now 10th all-time in home runs|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090711&content_id=5826720&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713074029/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090711&content_id=5826720&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=July 13, 2009|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> it was his 65th home run against Anaheim, the most by any active player against an opponent.

On October 4, 2009, during the final game of the season, Rodriguez hit two home runs in the sixth inning that drove in seven runs, setting an American League record for most RBI by a batter in a single inning, and giving him his 12th consecutive season, 13 overall, of reaching 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with [[Manny Ramirez]], [[Babe Ruth]] and [[Jimmie Foxx]] for the most in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 4, 2009|title=A-Rod hits 2 HRs, drives in AL-record 7 in 6th as Yanks win|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=291004130|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629135743/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=291004130|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2009}}</ref>

====2009 postseason====
Dating back to Game 4 of the 2004 AL Championship Series, Rodriguez had batted with 38 runners on base over a span of 61 postseason at-bats. He stranded every one of them, going 0-for-29 with runners on base.<ref>{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=October 7, 2009|title='Little things' help A-Rod solve October|url=http://m.mlb.com/nyy/news/article/200910077391972|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714103331/http://m.mlb.com/nyy/news/article/200910077391972|archive-date=July 14, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2010|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> However, in the first game of the [[2009 American League Division Series|2009 ALDS]] against Minnesota, he hit two RBI singles − both coming with two outs. In Game 2, he hit an RBI single in the sixth, and hit a game-tying homer off closer [[Joe Nathan]] in the bottom of the ninth inning. In Game 3, he again hit a game-tying home run. In the [[2009 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], Rodriguez hit his third game-tying home run of the postseason in Game 2 in the bottom of the 11th against [[2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season|Angels]] closer [[Brian Fuentes]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291017110 | title=Angels 3-4 Yankees (18 Oct, 2009) Game Recap }}</ref> For the series, he batted 9–21 (.429) with three home runs and six runs batted in.

The Yankees faced the Phillies in the [[2009 World Series|World Series]]. In Game 3, Rodriguez hit what appeared to be a double off a camera perched atop the outfield wall, but after protest by Yankee manager [[Joe Girardi]], the play was reviewed and ruled a home run. In Game 4, Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning off closer [[Brad Lidge]]. The Yankees would go on to win the game 7–4 to take a 3-games-to-1 lead in the series. Despite a 2–4 performance with three RBI in Game 5, the Yankees lost 8–6 to force the Series to return to the Bronx for Game 6. Rodriguez was 1–2 with 2 walks and two runs scored in Game 6, as the Yankees went on to defeat the Phillies 7–3 for their 27th World Series Championship, the first of Rodriguez's career. Having reversed his postseason misfortunes, he was the [[Babe Ruth Award]] winner as the 2009 postseason MVP,<ref name="ap012410">{{cite news|date=January 24, 2010|title=Rodriguez chokes up during speech|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4853444|access-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref> in which he batted .365 with six home runs and 18 RBI.<ref name="kruth080716">{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 7, 2016|title=A-Rod to play final game on Friday, become advisor for Yanks: 22-year playing career will end with fourth-most homers in Major League history|work=[[MLB.com]]|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-to-retire-c194038578|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808162350/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/194038578/alex-rodriguez-to-retire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2010–2012====
On August 4, 2010, on the three-year anniversary of his 500th home run, Rodriguez became the seventh player in major league history to hit 600 home runs, hitting number 600 off [[Shaun Marcum]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], becoming the youngest player to do so at 35 years and 8 days old.<ref>{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Tim|date=August 4, 2010|title=A-Rod youngest in history to 600 homers &#124; MLB.com: News|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100804&content_id=13011408&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806185135/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100804&content_id=13011408&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=August 6, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> On August 14, Rodriguez hit three home runs in a game against the [[Kansas City Royals]]. In the top of the sixth, he hit his first, a solo dinger to left center. In the top of the seventh, he hit his second, a two-run shot to dead center. In the top of the ninth, he hit his third, a towering two-run blast into the waterfall in [[Kauffman Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tucker|first=Doug|date=August 14, 2010|title=A-Rod hits 3 home runs in 8-3 win over Royals|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-a-rod-hits-3-home-runs-in-8-3-win-over-royals-2010aug14-story.html|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 6, he recorded his 100th RBI; it was the 14th year he had reached the mark, the most times of any player in baseball history. On September 29, he hit his 30th home run of the season, recording his major league record 13th straight year of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, breaking a tie with [[Jimmie Foxx]], who had 12 seasons.

In 2011, Rodriguez batted .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs prior to the All-Star break. Despite good production, Rodriguez suffered the longest single-season home run drought of his career by not hitting one in 85 at-bats. Although elected to start the game, Rodriguez opted for arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus that impacted his power, and was placed on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bagley|first1=Ian|last2=Mazzeo|first2=Mike|date=July 10, 2011|title=Alex Rodriguez to have knee surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6754883|access-date=October 18, 2011|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> On top of recovery, Rodriguez was facing serious allegations that he participated in illegal, underground poker games. One of those games reportedly turned violent and cocaine was openly used. However, Rodriguez denied through a representative that he ever participated in illegal poker games. An MLB Executive has said that if Rodriguez was indeed proven guilty, he may face a suspension; MLB had warned Rodriguez in 2005 not to participate in such games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 4, 2011|title=MLB investigates A-Rod gambling|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6830659/mlb-suspend-alex-rodriguez-illegal-poker|access-date=October 18, 2011|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Rodriguez returned to the Yankees on August 21, playing third base against the [[Minnesota Twins]], going 0-for-4. He sustained another injury with a jammed thumb while trying to make a play in that game. He returned to the Yankees on August 25, going 2-for-4 with two singles in a win for the Yankees over the [[Oakland Athletics]]. On August 26, Rodriguez hit his first home run since coming off the disabled list, a solo shot off [[Baltimore Orioles]] pitcher [[Tommy Hunter (baseball)|Tommy Hunter]]. He concluded the season with 16&nbsp;home runs and 62&nbsp;RBIs in 99&nbsp;games, ending his major league-record streak of 13&nbsp;straight seasons of 30&nbsp;homers and 100&nbsp;RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 29, 2011|title=Evan Longoria homers in 12th as Rays storm into postseason|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928130|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001155414/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928130|archive-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref>

Rodriguez hit his 23rd career grand slam off [[Atlanta Braves]] relief pitcher [[Jonny Venters]] on June 12, 2012, which tied [[Lou Gehrig]] for the most in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=June 12, 2012|title=Rodriguez Ties Gehrig's Grand Slam Record in Win Over Braves|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/sports/baseball/rodriguez-matches-gehrig-with-23-grand-slams-in-yanks-win-over-braves.html|access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> In a road loss versus the [[Seattle Mariners]] on July 24, 2012, Rodriguez took a hit to the hand during an eighth-inning at bat versus Seattle starting pitcher [[Félix Hernández]]. The injury was later described as a non-displaced fracture.<ref name="Hand">{{cite news|date=July 25, 2012|title=A-Rod breaks hand, Seattle beats Yankees 4–2|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/07/24/41934/index.html#preview|url-status=dead|access-date=July 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728015522/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/07/24/41934/index.html#preview|archive-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Rodriguez was placed on the disabled list. Earlier in the same game, Hernandez struck out Rodriguez in the sixth inning, making Rodriguez the fifth player to record 2,000 career strikeouts in MLB history.<ref name="Hand" />

During the 2012 postseason, Rodriguez was removed for a pinch hitter multiple times and did not start many times. He batted 3-for-25 overall, and went 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitchers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=October 26, 2012|title=Girardi made special press-level call to spare A-Rod's feelings|work=[[CBS Sports]]|publisher=|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/20697847/girardi-made-special-press-level-call-to-shield-a-rods-feelings|url-status=dead|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119054955/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/20697847/girardi-made-special-press-level-call-to-shield-a-rods-feelings|archive-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> He batted .111 in the 2012 ALCS.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Hare|first=James|date=September 30, 2013|title=20 Dumbest Professional Athletes of All Time|url=http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/2013/09/30/15-dumbest-professional-athletes-of-all-time-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004051448/http://www.rantsports.com/clubhouse/2013/09/30/15-dumbest-professional-athletes-of-all-time-2/|archive-date=October 4, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2016|website=Rant Sports}}</ref> The Yankees were eliminated by the Tigers in the [[2012 ALCS]].

====2013====
[[File:5V7A9422 Alex Rodriguez.jpg|thumb|left|Rodriguez playing for the [[Trenton Thunder]], the Yankees' AA affiliate, in 2013]]
On January 16, 2013, Rodriguez underwent [[arthroscopic surgery]] in his hip to repair a torn [[Acetabular labrum|labrum]]. It was the second time in four years that he had the surgery, although the operation was more serious than before. Rodriguez began the 2013 season on the 60-day [[disabled list]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Alex Rodriguez has hip surgery; Yankees say recovery time remains 6 months|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/alex-rodriguez-has-hip-surgery-yankees-say-recovery-time-remains-6-months/2013/01/16/da7676cc-6018-11e2-9dc9-bca76dd777b8_story.html|url-status=dead|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211145942/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/alex-rodriguez-has-hip-surgery-yankees-say-recovery-time-remains-6-months/2013/01/16/da7676cc-6018-11e2-9dc9-bca76dd777b8_story.html|archive-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

While rehabilitating his hip, Rodriguez was embroiled in a series of negative headlines: he became a central figure of the [[Biogenesis scandal]] and MLB's investigation into his possible connection to performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Terri|last2=Madden|first2=Bill|last3=Red|first3=Christian|last4=O'Keeffe|first4=Michael|date=June 6, 2013|title=Yankees' Alex Rodriguez refuses to pay Anthony Bosch, who then cuts deal to help MLB|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-team/a-rod-refuses-pay-bosch-cuts-deal-mlb-article-1.1364586|access-date=August 5, 2013}}</ref> Around the same time, Rodriguez announced on Twitter that his doctor had medically cleared him to play in games. Yankees general manager [[Brian Cashman]], much to his dismay, soon revealed that Rodriguez's doctor did not have such authority to clear him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/cashman-isnt-trying-to-be-nice-to-a-rod-anymore.html|title=Brian Cashman Isn't Trying to Be Nice to A-Rod Anymore|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Joe|last=DeLessio|date=June 26, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2013}}</ref>

Rodriguez played his first rehab assignment game on July 2, 2013, with the Yankees Class-A Low affiliate, the [[Charleston RiverDogs]].<ref>{{cite web|date=July 1, 2013|title=A-Rod To Play First Rehab Assignment Game On Tuesday|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/sports/sports_news/184801/a-rod-to-play-first-rehab-assignment-game-on-tuesday|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142112/http://www.ny1.com/content/sports/sports_news/184801/a-rod-to-play-first-rehab-assignment-game-on-tuesday|archive-date=April 13, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2013|website=[[NY1]]|publisher=}}</ref> He continued his rehabilitation and played for the Yankees Triple-A team, the [[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders]] on July 18.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Roger|date=July 17, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez will play his next rehab game for Triple-A Scranton|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/a-rod-rehab-triple-a-scranton-article-1.1401083#ixzz2ZK8xAKsd|access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> Two days prior to his scheduled promotion to the major league roster, Rodriguez sustained a new injury, as an MRI later revealed a Grade 1 quad strain, delaying his return and forcing him to continue rehabilitating in the minor leagues. Rodriguez independently sought a second opinion on his quad strain on July 24 with a doctor who stated that there did not appear to be an injury; the Yankees front office expressed further dismay, claiming that he violated league rules for seeking a second opinion without the team's permission.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/07/doctor-a-rods-quad-is-just-fine.html | title=Doctor: A-Rods Quad is Just Fine | date=July 24, 2013 }}</ref> He completed his rehabilitation program with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate [[Trenton Thunder]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Canavan|first=Tom|date=August 2, 2013|title=ALEX RODRIGUEZ HOMERS IN DOUBLE-A REHAB GAME|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alex-rodriguez-arrives-trenton-rehab-games|url-status=dead|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123609/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alex-rodriguez-arrives-trenton-rehab-games|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>

Rodriguez made his 2013 return with the Yankees on August 5, which was the same day that MLB announced he would be suspended—pending an appeal—through the 2014 season for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 5, 2013|title=A-Rod suspended, pending appeal|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9540887/mlb-suspends-alex-rodriguez-2014-season|access-date=August 5, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> On August 11, Rodriguez hit his first home run of the season off [[Detroit Tigers]] pitcher [[Justin Verlander]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Rieber|first=Anthony|date=August 11, 2013|title=Yankees win on Brett Gardner walk-off, Alex Rodriguez hits first homer of season|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-win-on-brett-gardner-walk-off-alex-rodriguez-hits-first-homer-of-season-1.5872451|access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref> With the home run, Rodriguez passed [[Stan Musial]] for fifth place in career RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=August 11, 2013|title=A-Rod homers, passes Musial on RBI list|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130811&content_id=56647426&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=August 13, 2013}}</ref> Rodriguez continued to feud with the Yankees front office following his return, as his lawyers accused the team, and specifically [[Christopher S. Ahmad]], of mishandling his hip injury in several ways; Rodriguez's legal team contended that the team withheld the injury from him and continued to play him in 2012, despite his condition. Yankees team president [[Randy Levine]] expressed negative comments towards Rodriguez, saying that he would "feel happy if Rodriguez never played again".<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=August 18, 2013|title=A-Rod grievance process started|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9579580/alex-rodriguez-lawyers-began-grievance-process-sources-say|access-date=August 19, 2013|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> In response to the accusations, Cashman said, "I'm not comfortable talking to Alex about this because we feel we are in a litigious environment. Hello and goodbye, that's about it." He added, "It's not just Yankees' management. He's putting it at the level of our trainers, our medical staff. The organization. The team."<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=August 18, 2013|title=GM 'not comfortable' with A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9579922/new-york-yankees-gm-not-comfortable-talking-alex-rodriguez|access-date=August 19, 2013|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

During a game against the Red Sox on August 18, 2013, Rodriguez was involved in key moments against [[Ryan Dempster]]. The first time he faced Dempster, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch on a 3–0 count, leading to home plate umpire [[Brian O'Nora]] warning both benches and ejecting Girardi, while Dempster was allowed to stay in the game. Later in the top of the sixth inning, Rodriguez encountered Dempster again, hitting a 442-foot home run to straightaway center.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 19, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez gets plunked, hits homer to spark Yankees|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/330818102|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010062059/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/330818102|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 10, 2021|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> The Yankees won 9–6, and Dempster, who hit Rodriguez before, was suspended five games by the league with an undisclosed fine (although he did not miss a start).<ref>{{cite web|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|date=August 20, 2013|title=MLB suspends Ryan Dempster 5 games for hitting A-Rod|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/08/20/ryan-dempster-suspended-alex-rodriguez-mlb/2676575/|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 20, at [[Yankee Stadium]], Rodriguez hit his 24th career [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]], an opposite field 654th career home run, off [[George Kontos]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]], breaking the all-time grand slam record, formerly held by [[Lou Gehrig]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=September 21, 2013|title=A-ROD SETS SLAM RECORD, YANKEES BEAT GIANTS 5–1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/rod-sets-slam-record-yankees-beat-giants-5-1|url-status=dead|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014103720/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/rod-sets-slam-record-yankees-beat-giants-5-1|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> For the 2013 season, Rodriguez played in only 44 games batting .244 with seven home runs and 19 RBI.<ref name="b-r" />

====2014: Suspension due to Biogenesis scandal====
Rodriguez's suspension that was announced the previous season but delayed pending an appeal, was upheld, resulting in him being suspended for the entirety of the 2014 regular season and postseason.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=August 5, 2013|title=Suspension Leaves Many Questions for Now and Later|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/sports/baseball/filling-in-the-details-of-rodriguezs-suspension.html|access-date=August 6, 2013|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At the end of the 2014 season, general manager Brian Cashman announced that Rodriguez would no longer serve as an everyday third baseman after the team's signing of [[Chase Headley]], and would instead serve as a [[designated hitter]].<ref name="DH">{{cite news|date=December 16, 2014|title=GM: 'Can't expect' much from A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12037429/alex-rodriguez-now-full-dh|access-date=December 16, 2014|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

====2015====
In the off-season, during the week of January 19, 2015, it was reported that Rodriguez met with new [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Rob Manfred]]. The pair reportedly had a "positive discussion...in which Rodriguez apologized, while promising to behave in the future".<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=January 24, 2015|title=A-Rod meets with Rob Manfred|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12221039/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-meets-rob-manfred|access-date=January 24, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On February 17, 2015, Rodriguez issued a hand-written letter of apology to "Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans".<ref>{{cite web|date=February 17, 2015|title=A-Rod issues hand-written letter of apology to fans|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguezs-letter-of-apology-to-fans/c-109501412|access-date=February 17, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=February 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218010131/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/109501412/alex-rodriguezs-letter-of-apology-to-fans|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rodriguez reported to New York Yankees' 2015 spring training camp three days early.<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=February 23, 2015|title=A-Rod reports to Yanks in Tampa|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12369495/alex-rodriguez-reports-new-york-yankees-following-season-long-suspension|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=February 23, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez Reports To Yankees Spring Training|url=https://www.courant.com/spots/baseball/hc-alex-rodriguez-reports-yankees-0223-20150223-story.html|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[Hartford Courant]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hurcomb|first=Michael|date=February 23, 2015|title=A-Rod reports three days early for spring training with Yankees|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25079003/a-rod-reports-three-days-early-for-spring-training-with-yankees|access-date=February 23, 2015|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> Girardi planned to play Rodriguez at first base during spring training to assess whether he could be played there, a first for his career.<ref>{{cite news|last=Witz|first=Billy|date=February 27, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez attends first-base school, but a key item is absent|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/sports/baseball/alex-rodriguez-attends-first-base-school-but-a-key-item-is-absent.html|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Andy|date=March 3, 2015|title=New York Today: Boys of Spring|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/new-york-today-boys-of-spring/|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez played his first game after his suspension on opening day against the [[2015 Toronto Blue Jays season|Blue Jays]] at Yankee Stadium. He served as the designated hitter, going 1 for 2 with a walk as the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays 1–6.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=April 6, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez receives loud ovation in Yankee Stadium return|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12628754/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-receives-loud-ovation-yankee-stadium-return|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> On April 17, his first multi-HR game – and third and fourth home runs – of the season included a blast off [[Nate Karns]] of [[2015 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay]] that traveled {{convert|471|ft}}, providing four total RBIs in a 5–4 win.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reiter|first=Ben|date=April 17, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez's resurgent year continues with monster night vs. Rays|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/04/17/alex-rodriguez-home-runs-comeback-yankees-rays|access-date=April 18, 2015|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> In a pinch-hit appearance against the [[2015 Boston Red Sox season|Red Sox]] on May 1, Rodriguez hit his 660th career home run off reliever [[Junichi Tazawa]], tying [[Willie Mays]] for fourth place on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=May 2, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez hits home run No. 660, tying Willie Mays for fourth on all-time list as Yankees beat Red Sox, 3–2|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/alex-rodriguez-hits-home-run-no-660-tying-willie-mays-article-1.2207425|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> On May 7, Rodriguez hit his 661st career home run off [[Baltimore Orioles|Orioles]] pitcher [[Chris Tillman]] for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time home run list.<ref>{{cite web|author=Zucker|first=Joseph|date=May 7, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez Passes Willie Mays for 4th Place on MLB's All-Time Home Run List|url=http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2452843-alex-rodriguez-passes-willie-mays-for-4th-place-on-mlbs-all-time-home-run-list|access-date=June 19, 2015|work=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> On May 27, Rodriguez set an AL record for the most career RBI, passing Lou Gehrig, also moving him into third on the all-time list.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=May 27, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez of New York Yankees takes sole possession of all-time AL RBI list|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12962923/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-takes-sole-possession-all-al-rbi-list|access-date=May 27, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

With his 666th career home run against [[Bud Norris]] of the Orioles on June 13, Rodriguez drove in his 2,000th and 2,001st career runs. However, opinions varied on whether he was the second ([[Elias Sports Bureau]], trailing Aaron), third (MLB, trailing Aaron and Ruth),<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 13, 2015|title=A-Rod passes 2,000 RBIs with homer|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-passes-2000-rbis-with-homer/c-130475370|access-date=June 14, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=June 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616192932/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/130475370/alex-rodriguez-passes-2000-rbis-with-homer|url-status=live}}</ref> or fourth player (Baseball-Reference.com, trailing Aaron, Ruth, and [[Cap Anson]]) in MLB history to attain 2,000 RBIs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Career leaders & records for runs batted in|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/RBI_career.shtml|access-date=June 14, 2015|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> Rodriguez's next home run was also his [[3,000 hit club|3,000th career hit]], making him the 29th player to reach the milestone. He hit it against the [[2015 Detroit Tigers season|Tigers]]' [[Justin Verlander]] in a 7–2 win, joining [[Wade Boggs]] and Jeter – both former Yankees – as the only players to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=June 20, 2015|title=A-Rod: 3rd to homer for 3,000th hit|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/a-rod-third-to-homer-for-3000th-hit/c-131700474|access-date=June 20, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623041013/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/131700474/a-rod-third-to-homer-for-3000th-hit|url-status=live}}</ref> With his next hit on June 20, Rodriguez surpassed [[Roberto Clemente]], the eleventh player in MLB history to have recorded 3,000 hits.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fehr|first=Israel|date=June 21, 2015|title=Yankees trounce Tigers as A-Rod passes Roberto Clemente on all-time hit list|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yankees-trounce-tigers-as-a-rod-passes-roberto-clemente-on-all-time-hit-list-032150646.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621223644/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yankees-trounce-tigers-as-a-rod-passes-roberto-clemente-on-all-time-hit-list-032150646.html|archive-date=June 21, 2015|access-date=June 22, 2015|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}</ref> On July 25, against the [[2015 Minnesota Twins season|Twins]] in [[Minnesota]], and two days before his 40th birthday, Rodríguez became the fifth-oldest player to hit three home runs in one game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nathan|first=Alec|date=July 25, 2015|title=Alex Rodriguez hits 3 home runs vs. Twins|url=http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2531408-alex-rodriguez-hits-3-home-runs-vs-twins-stats-highlights-and-reaction|access-date=July 25, 2015|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|publisher=}}</ref>

In his first 95 games of the season, Rodriguez hit 24 homers and produced an OPS of .930.<ref name="mccarron052616">{{cite web|last=McCarron|first=Andrew|date=May 26, 2016|title=Yankees should sit Alex Rodriguez more often when he returns|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mccarron-designated-sitter-perfect-role-alex-rodriguez-article-1.2650380|access-date=May 28, 2016|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> After being mired in a 72-at-bat slump without a home run until August 18 against the Twins, he hit his 25th home run which was also his 25th career grand slam, extending his major league record. The home run also drove in the go-ahead runs for an 8–4 Yankees win.<ref>{{cite news|last=Witz|first=Billy|date=August 18, 2015|title=Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ends drought with a pivotal grand slam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/sports/baseball/alex-rodriguezs-grand-slam-comes-at-right-time.html|access-date=August 23, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
[[File:Alex Rodriguez on August 2, 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Rodriguez with the Yankees in 2016]]

From August 1 until the end of the season, Rodriguez appeared in 56 games, batting .191, .678 OPS, nine home runs, and struck out 59 times in 183 at-bats.<ref name=mccarron052616/> The first base experiment yielded two total appearances in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Randy|date=May 26, 2016|title=Alex Rodriguez returning: Can Yankees DH fill in at 1st in pinch?|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/05/alex_rodriguez_is_back_can_yankees_dh_fill_in_at_1.html|access-date=May 28, 2016|website=[[NJ.com]]}}</ref> He finished with 33 home runs, 86 RBI, 131 hits, and a .252 batting average.<ref name="b-r" /> He led the Yankees in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, and bases-on-balls. Rodriguez reached 30+ home runs for the 15th time in his career, tying Aaron for the most 30-home-run seasons in history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snyder|first=Matt|date=September 8, 2015|title=A-Rod joins Hank Aaron as only players with 15 30-home run seasons|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25295044/a-rod-joins-hank-aaron-as-only-players-with-15-30-hr-seasons|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909111342/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25295044/a-rod-joins-hank-aaron-as-only-players-with-15-30-hr-seasons|archive-date=September 9, 2015|access-date=May 28, 2016|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

====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>

== Media career ==
===Television===
Rodriguez became a guest judge on ''[[Shark Tank]]'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gleeson|first=Scott|date=May 16, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez joining 'Shark Tank' as guest judge in the fall|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/05/16/alex-rodriguez-joining-shark-tank-judge/101740454/|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US}}</ref> That same year, he signed a deal with [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] network to serve as a contributor to ''[[ABC World News Tonight]]'', ''[[Good Morning America]]'', and ''[[Nightline]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|date=May 28, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez Signs With ABC News, Will Serve as GMA Contributor|url=https://tvline.com/2017/05/28/alex-rodriguez-abc-news-deal-a-rod-good-morning-america/|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[TVLine]]|language=en}}</ref>

Rodriguez is an MLB studio analyst for [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]], working alongside [[Kevin Burkhardt]], [[David Ortiz]] and Derek Jeter.<ref name=":0" /> During his tenure as analyst, Fox Sports' [[MLB on Fox|MLB studio show]] won back-to-back [[Sports Emmy Award]]s for [[Outstanding Studio Show]] during the network's coverage of the 2016 and 2017 postseason. Rodriguez was nominated for an Emmy for [[Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Event Analyst]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nominees – 2019 Sports – Personalities – The Emmys|url=https://theemmys.tv/nominees-2019-sports-personalities/|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[The Emmys]]|date=April 3, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> Rodriguez joined [[ESPN]] in 2018 as a ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]'' analyst, alongside [[Matt Vasgersian]] and [[Buster Olney]].<ref>{{cite web|date=January 23, 2018|title=Alex Rodriguez to call games for ESPN on Sunday Night Baseball|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22188646/alex-rodriguez-join-espn-sunday-night-baseball|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> In the 2022 season, Rodriguez moved to a simulcast on [[ESPN2]] that he co-hosts with [[Michael Kay (sports broadcaster)|Michael Kay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/01/06/alex-rodriguez-michael-kay-alternate-sunday-night-baseball-broadcast/9126811002/ |title=Alex Rodriguez, Michael Kay get new Sunday Night Baseball broadcast |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2022-01-06 |accessdate=2022-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33012522/former-mlb-pitcher-david-cone-serve-sunday-night-baseball-analyst-alex-rodriguez-lead-simulcast-version|title=Former MLB pitcher David Cone to serve as Sunday Night Baseball analyst; Alex Rodriguez to lead simulcast version|date=January 7, 2022|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Rodriguez became the host of the show ''[[Back in the Game (2019 TV series)|Back in the Game]]'' with the first episode debuting on [[CNBC]] in March 2018. The series focuses on Rodriguez mentoring athletes and entertainers who have fallen on hard times. A four-episode series debuted in November 2019 and featured [[Evander Holyfield]], [[Ryan Lochte]], [[Brian Dunkleman]], and [[Nicole Eggert]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Barr|first=Jeremy|date=November 12, 2019|title=Alex Rodriguez Wants to "Pay It Forward" With New CNBC Show|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alex-rodriguez-wants-pay-it-forward-new-cnbc-show-1253943|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en}}</ref>

In July 2020, it was announced that Rodriguez would be part of the judging panel for the ''[[Forbes]]'' Next 1000 list, a franchise which focuses on entrepreneurs from marginalized communities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lane|first=Randall|date=July 29, 2020|title=In Search Of The Next 1000: The Entrepreneurs Creating Their Own American Dreams|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/29/in-search-of-the-next-1000-the-entrepreneurs-creating-their-own-american-dreams/|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[Forbes]]|language=en}}</ref>

Rodriguez appeared in ''[[The Captain (miniseries)|The Captain]]'', a 2022 miniseries about Jeter's life and career. Rodriguez and Jeter discussed the rift in their friendship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2022/07/15/derek-jeter-alex-rodriguez-rift-explored-espn-the-captain-doc/10054859002/ |title=Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez rift explored in ESPN 'The Captain' doc |last=Bumbaca|first=Chris|work=USA Today |date=July 15, 2022 |accessdate=July 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a40590724/derek-jeter-the-captain-review/ |title='The Captain' Review - Derek Jeter ESPN Documentary is Dutiful Look at A-Rod Controversy, Baseball Celebrity |first=Alex |last=Belth|work=Esquire|date=July 18, 2022 |accessdate=2022-07-19}}</ref>

Rodriguez is the subject of the 2025 documentary series ''[[Alex vs ARod]]''.<ref>https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2025/11/07/alex-rodriguez-alex-vs-arod-episodes-hbo/87133127007/</ref>

=== Advertisements ===
Rodriguez was featured in a 2010 [[Pepsi Cola]] commercial as a truck driver in a fleet of delivery trucks simulating players in a baseball game. At the end of the commercial when he drives his vehicle to make a catch, he is told by his approving partner in the truck that he has a future in the beverage delivery business.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lefton |first=Terry |date=2006-04-10 |title=A-Rod wheeling out new Pepsi truck TV spot |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2006/04/10/Marketingsponsorship/A-Rod-Wheeling-Out-New-Pepsi-Truck-TV-Spot.aspx |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=[[Sports Business Journal]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez is featured in a commercial for ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]'', where he plays the guitar along with athletes [[Tony Hawk]] on drums, [[Kobe Bryant]] on vocals, and [[Michael Phelps]] on guitar. The commercial is a spoof of the scene from ''[[Risky Business]]'' where [[Tom Cruise]] is dancing to "[[Old Time Rock and Roll]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Entertainment News from PR Newswire|work=[[PR Newswire]]|agency=|url=http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20081024/LAF02424102008-1.html|url-status=dead|access-date=August 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716022359/http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20081024/LAF02424102008-1.html|archive-date=July 16, 2009}}</ref>

In 2019, Rodriguez was featured in a [[Planters]] [[Super Bowl commercials|Super Bowl commercial]], where he is watching the game and about to snack on some kale chips but [[Mr. Peanut]] drives in to stop him from eating kale and instead snack on some Peanuts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morabito|first=Greg|date=January 30, 2019|title=The Planters 'Nutmobile' Saves Alex Rodriguez in New Super Bowl Ad|url=https://www.eater.com/2019/1/30/18202724/planters-peanuts-super-bowl-commercial-2019-a-rod-charlie-sheen|access-date=July 22, 2020|website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]]|language=en}}</ref> In 2020, during [[Super Bowl LIV]], Rodriguez was featured in a [[Presidente]] beer Super Bowl commercial,<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosenstein|first=Mike|date=January 31, 2020|title=WATCH: Super Bowl commercial stars ex-Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez pitching 'the Dominican beer'|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/01/watch-super-bowl-commercial-stars-ex-yankees-slugger-alex-rodriguez-pitching-the-dominican-beer.html|access-date=July 22, 2020|website=[[NJ.com]]|language=en}}</ref> as well as a [[Hard Rock Cafe|Hard Rock]] ad which also featured [[Jennifer Lopez]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Ginsburg|first=Gab|date=February 2, 2020|title=Watch Jennifer Lopez Go on a Thrilling Hotel Chase With DJ Khaled, Pitbull & More in Hard Rock Super Bowl 2020 Ad|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/super-bowl/8549917/hard-rock-super-bowl-2020-ad-jennifer-lopez|access-date=August 8, 2020|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

In 2021, Rodriguez teamed up with [[cosmetics]] company Hims to launch a line of make-up for men, beginning with its first product – a concealer stick. His ex [[Jennifer Lopez]] is a co-investor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holender|first=Samantha|date=May 21, 2021|title=Alex Rodriguez Teams Up With Hims to Launch Concealer Stick for Men: Details|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/alex-rodriguez-partners-with-hims-to-create-mens-makeup|access-date=July 22, 2021|website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]]|language=en}}</ref> In 2022, Rodriguez appeared in a [[DirecTV]] commercial with Ortiz and former Mariners teammates Griffey Jr. and Johnson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2022/04/20/ken-griffey-alex-rodriguez-david-ortiz-randy-johnson-directv-commercial/7377082001/ |title=Commercial brings Hall of Famers together for the first time since '96 |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2022-04-20 |accessdate=2022-08-13}}</ref>

==Criticism==
{{Criticism section|date=July 2025}}[[File:Reggie&A-Rod.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Reggie Jackson]] talking with Rodriguez during batting practice]]
Due to the unsuccessful nature of the Yankees postseasons from 2004 to 2007, along with Rodriguez's sub-.200 batting average in the postseasons of 2005 and 2006,<ref name="b-r" /> Rodriguez drew criticism in the New York area, both from writers, such as the ''[[New York Post]]''{{'s}} Joel Sherman, and players, such as then-teammate, [[Jason Giambi]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Joel|date=June 12, 2006|title=TIME TO FACE FACTS: A-ROD SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE 'IT'|url=https://nypost.com/2006/06/12/time-to-face-facts-a-rod-simply-doesnt-have-it/|access-date=October 10, 2021|website=[[New York Post]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Sports">{{cite magazine|author=Verducci|first=Tom|date=September 25, 2006|title=A-Rod Agonistes|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/09/19/arod0925/5.html|url-status=dead|access-date=October 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027045208/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/09/19/arod0925/5.html|archive-date=October 27, 2006}}</ref> Prior to 2009, Rodriguez had received the nickname "The Cooler" among some players because of the perceived tendency for teams to turn cold when he joins them and hot when he leaves.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bauman|first=Mike|date=November 7, 2007|title=News: Is A-Rod worth the money?|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20071106&content_id=2294613&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109111848/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20071106&content_id=2294613&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp|archive-date=November 9, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=October 29, 2007|title=SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Rodriguez Is a Bauble A Champion Doesn't Need|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/sports/baseball/29roberts.html|access-date=August 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brattain|first=John|date=October 29, 2007|title=Part of the Business of Sports Network – Brattain: Waterloo|url=http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1635&Itemid=41|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708012555/http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1635&Itemid=41|archive-date=July 8, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=The Biz of Baseball|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brattain|first=John|date=October 14, 2005|title=Fall From Grace|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/fall-from-grace/|access-date=November 17, 2018|work=[[The Hardball Times]]}}</ref> According to Yankees manager [[Joe Torre]]'s 2009 book, ''[[The Yankee Years]]'', Rodriguez earned the nickname "A-Fraud" from teammates and particularly from clubhouse attendants who were said to resent his demands.<ref name="Torre">{{cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|date=January 25, 2009|title=In Torre's Book, Rodriguez Comments Stand Out|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/sports/baseball/26torre.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411080915/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/sports/baseball/26torre.html|archive-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> "It was [said] in front of him," Torre later said of the nickname. "A lot of that stuff that went on in the clubhouse was more tongue-in-cheek, fun type stuff," he explained.<ref name="Torre2">{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Joshua|date=February 3, 2009|title=Fans Like Up for Book, and Torre Talks|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/sports/baseball/04torre.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417090736/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/sports/baseball/04torre.html|archive-date=April 17, 2009}}</ref>

Much of the criticism regarding Rodriguez focused on his alleged inability to produce hits in clutch situations.<ref>{{cite web|year=2006|title=Top 49 Men of 2006|url=http://www.askmen.com/specials/2006_top_49/alex-Rodriguez-30.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116103433/http://www.askmen.com/specials/2006_top_49/alex-Rodriguez-30.html|archive-date=November 16, 2006|access-date=November 27, 2018|website=[[AskMen]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=October 5, 2006|title=A-Rod's postseason funk continues in Game 2 loss|url=http://sportsline.com/mlb/story/9707491|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526225523/http://sportsline.com/mlb/story/9707491|archive-date=May 26, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2007|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> In 2008, Rodriguez hit only .264 with runners in scoring position and two outs. In 95 plate appearances, he walked 20 times and was hit by three pitches, and he had only 19 hits. Of the 41 times Rodriguez struck out with two outs, 20 came with runners in scoring position.<ref name="100random"/>

Because of the Yankees' successful history, he was compared unfavorably to other Yankees greats who have performed exceptionally well in the postseason, such as [[Reggie Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news|date=August 29, 2006|title=Yanks are 'stuck' with A-Rod, Reggie says|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14558307|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901014957/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14558307|archive-date=September 1, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2018|website=[[MSNBC]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/sports/baseball/29yankees.html |title=A Whiff of Futility, and Rodriguez Can't Breathe Easy |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=November 10, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=October 7, 2006|title=A-Rod demoted to 8th, Giambi benched|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15164062/wid/6448213|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116002506/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15164062/wid/6448213|archive-date=January 16, 2008|access-date=November 8, 2018|website=[[MSNBC]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sheinin |first=Dave |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/13/AR2006031302033_pf.html |title=Choi's Blast Leads Korea to Win Over United States |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 14, 2006 |access-date=November 11, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=Bob|date=May 11, 2006|title=Boss's criticism of A-Rod is long overdue|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12726660/wid/7279844/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117191750/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12726660/wid/7279844/|archive-date=November 17, 2007|access-date=November 20, 2018|website=[[MSNBC]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bryant|first=Howard|year=2007|title=E-ticket: King of Gotham?|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=arod2007&redirected=true|access-date=November 22, 2018|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> However, after his performance in the 2009 postseason, Rodriguez started receiving many positive comparisons to Reggie Jackson, even being selected as "Mr. October" by Jackson and ''USA Today''.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 6, 2009|title=Mr. October: Finding baseball's most clutch players|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/mr-october.htm|access-date=June 3, 2010|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

Rodriguez answered many of the criticisms of his postseason performance by performing exceptionally well in the 2009 postseason, where he posted a .365 batting average and hit six home-runs in 52 at-bats during the Yankees' 15 post-season games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Neel|first=Eric|date=October 20, 2009|title=A-Rod looking like A-Monster|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=neel_eric&id=4581610|access-date=November 26, 2018|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

==Use of performance-enhancing drugs==
In July 2007, former outfielder and [[Doping in baseball|steroid-user]] [[Jose Canseco]] said that he was planning to publish another book about Major League Baseball to follow his 2005 bestseller ''[[Juiced (book)|Juiced]]''. Canseco said his new book would have "other stuff" on Rodriguez, and called him a hypocrite.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 29, 2007|title=A-Rod has no comment on Canseco's words about new book|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2953302|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> At the time, Rodriguez denied accusations of steroid use.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 14, 2007|title=A-Rod denies using performance-enhancers|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22266538/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215190111/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22266538/|archive-date=December 15, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[MSNBC]]|publisher=}}</ref> In a 2007 interview with [[Katie Couric]], Rodriguez flatly denied ever having used performance-enhancing drugs.<ref name="Questions"/>

In February 2009, [[Selena Roberts]] and David Epstein of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' reported that Rodriguez had tested positive for two [[anabolic steroids]], [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]] and [[Primobolan]], during his 2003 season playing for the Texas Rangers, the same season in which he captured his first American League [[Most Valuable Player]] award, broke 300 career home runs (hitting 47 that year),<ref name="YankeesPay">{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|date=February 7, 2009|title=Yankees Pay for Rodriguez in More Ways Than One|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/baseball/08sotaraton.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409174346/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/baseball/08sotaraton.html|archive-date=April 9, 2009}}</ref> and earned one of his ten [[Silver Slugger Award]]s. The information had been part of a government-sealed report detailing 104 [[Major League Baseball|major league]] players (out of 1200 players tested)<ref name="Glanville">{{cite news|last=Glanville|first=Doug|date=February 9, 2009|title=Understanding A-Rod|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/opinion/09glanville.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410102648/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/opinion/09glanville.html|archive-date=April 10, 2009}}</ref> who tested positive for performance enhancers during a 2003 drug [[Statistical survey|survey]]. Approved by the players themselves with the promise of anonymity,<ref name="Glanville"/> the survey was conducted by Major League Baseball to see whether a mandatory drug testing program might be necessary. At the time, as the result of a collectively bargained union agreement,<ref name="Glanville"/> there was no penalty or punishment for a positive test.<ref name="SIsteroids"/><ref name="NBCsteroid">{{cite news|date=February 7, 2008|title=Report: A-Rod tested positive for steroids in '03|work=[[NBC Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29068677/|url-status=dead|access-date=February 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208183355/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29068677/|archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> Because more than 5% of the samples taken from players in 2003 came back positive, mandatory testing of major league baseball players began in 2004, with penalties for violations.<ref name="NYTsteroids"/>

[[File:Alex Rodriguez 2009 World Series Parade.jpg|thumb|Alex Rodriguez during the [[2009 World Series]] parade.]]
The 2003 test results were supposed to remain anonymous and the samples destroyed. However, a coded master list of 104 players was seized during the [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative|BALCO]] investigation, turning up in a 2004 federal raid on Comprehensive Drug Testing's facility in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], California. A month later, the physical samples were seized by federal agents raiding [[Quest Diagnostics]] in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="NYTsteroids">{{cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|date=February 7, 2009|title=Alex Rodriguez Said to Test Positive in 2003|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/baseball/08arod.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402052855/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/baseball/08arod.html|archive-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> The list of the 104 positive-testing players was released to the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]] (MLBPA) in 2004.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/> The players' union later said that the 104 positive samples were in the process of being destroyed when they were [[subpoena]]ed by federal authorities in November 2003, making continued destruction "improper."<ref name="NYTdenial" />

Although testosterone is available by prescription for some uses, Primobolan has no approved prescription use.<ref name="SIsteroids"/> Also known as ''methenolone'' or ''metenolone enanthate'', it is the same [[steroid]] that [[Barry Bonds]] is alleged to have tested positive for in 2000 and 2001.<ref name="NYTsteroids"/> A fairly weak steroid on its own, it is generally used in conjunction with other steroids.<ref name="StarLedgersteroids"/> The drug is generally preferred in injected rather than oral form due to its cost.<ref name="StarLedgersteroids">{{cite news|last=Prunty|first=Brendan|date=February 7, 2009|title=What is Primobolan?|work=[[The Star-Ledger]]|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2009/02/what_is_primobolan.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090208145218/http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2009/02/what_is_primobolan.html|archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> An official statement by Major League Baseball made shortly after Rodriguez's test results became public expressed "grave concern" without naming Rodriguez, noting that "because the survey testing that took place in 2003 was intended to be non-disciplinary and anonymous, we can not make any comment on the accuracy of this report as it pertains to the player named."<ref name="MLB">{{cite news|date=February 7, 2009|title=Major League Baseball Statement|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/sports/MLB_Statement_020709.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304145405/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/sports/MLB_Statement_020709.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2009}}</ref>

In an interview with ESPN after the report came out, citing "an enormous amount of pressure to perform", Rodriguez admitted to using banned substances from 2001 to 2003.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/> "All my years in New York have been clean", he added, saying he had not used banned substances since last taking them following a spring training injury in 2003 while playing for the Rangers.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/><ref name="NYTadmission"/> "Back then, [baseball] was a different culture", Rodriguez said. "It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful."<ref name="ESPNadmission"/><ref name="NYTadmission"/> Rodriguez said he could not be sure of the name(s) of the substance(s) he had used.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/><ref name="NYTadmission"/>

Rodriguez said he was never told that he was among the 104 players who tested positive, only that a tip came in August 2004 from [[Gene Orza]] of the [[Major League Baseball Players Association|MLBPA]] that he "may or may not have" failed his 2003 test.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/> Orza is accused by three (unnamed) MLB players of tipping Rodriguez to an upcoming drug test in September 2004. Orza and the MLBPA have denied the allegations.<ref name="NYTdenial">{{cite news|title=Union Official Says He Did Not Tip Off Rodriguez|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/sports/baseball/10orza.html|date=February 9, 2009|access-date=February 10, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Michael S.|last=Schmidt| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090409174420/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/sports/baseball/10orza.html| archive-date=April 9, 2009| url-status=live}}</ref>

Rodriguez absolved the players' union of any blame for leaking his positive test results, saying he alone was responsible for his mistakes.<ref name="ESPNadmission"/> Friend and former teammate [[Doug Glanville]], while noting the outrage over Rodriguez's years of steroid use, berated Rodriguez's critics for their "lack of outrage about how a confidential and anonymous test could be made public."<ref name="Glanville"/> No Major League player, Glanville wrote, would have participated in the 2003 survey if he had thought the results had even a chance of becoming public. "It has everything to do with privacy. Being A-Rod should not change that fact."<ref name="Glanville"/>

MLB commissioner [[Bud Selig]] briefly considered whether to punish Rodriguez for his admitted steroid use, citing the illegality of the situation, among other things. However, at the time of the testing there were no punishments for this sort of activity.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 11, 2009|title=Selig considering options on A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3900961|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215120859/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3900961|archive-date=February 15, 2009|access-date=March 12, 2009|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> Additionally, his admission to three years of steroid use could be damaging to his image and legacy.<ref name="NYTadmission"/>

Later in the month, Rodriguez called a press conference in [[Tampa, Florida]], and in the presence of many supportive Yankee teammates, answered reporters' questions about his 2001–2003 steroid use.<ref name="Questions">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=February 17, 2009|title=As Team Looks On, Rodriguez Details His Use of Steroids|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/sports/baseball/18yankees.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310001708/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/sports/baseball/18yankees.html|archive-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name="ARodBlog">{{cite news|last=Schwarz|first=Alan|date=February 17, 2009|title=As It Happened: The A-Rod News Conference|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/as-it-happens-watching-a-rod/|url-status=live|access-date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219021506/http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/as-it-happens-watching-a-rod/|archive-date=February 19, 2009}}</ref> Rodriguez said he and a cousin (whom he refused to name) bought an unidentified drug [[over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] in the Dominican Republic, where it is "known on the streets as boli or bollee."<ref name="Questions"/><ref name="Transcript">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/sports/baseball/17arod-statement.html|title=Rodriguez Statement on Drug Use|date=February 17, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Alex|last=Rodriguez| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090310070816/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/sports/baseball/17arod-statement.html| archive-date= March 10, 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> At Rodriguez's instruction, the cousin transported the drug into the United States.<ref name="JeterDefends">{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=February 18, 2008|title=Jeter defends A-Rod, attacks critics|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090218&content_id=3844658|url-status=live|access-date=February 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106053217/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090218&content_id=3844658|archive-date=November 6, 2012}}</ref> For six months of the year, Rodriguez injected himself twice monthly with "boli" (a drug name unfamiliar to experts and perhaps a slang term for Primobolan or [[Dianabol]], although the latter steroid is taken orally).<ref name="Questions"/> Rodriguez said he did not know whether he was using the drug properly or whether it was safe.<ref name="Questions"/> Although he "certainly felt more energy", Rodriguez said it would be "hard to say" whether it gave him a competitive edge.<ref name="ARodBlog"/>

Rodriguez said he would become a spokesperson for the [[Travis Tygart|Taylor Hooton foundation]], which educates young people about the dangers of steroid use.<ref name="Questions"/><ref name="ARodBlog"/> He has since spoken at schools about the dangers of steroids.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Connolly|first1=Dan|last2=Gencer|first2=Arin|date=September 1, 2009|title=A-Rod gives anti-steroid talk to area students|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-alex-rodriguez-steroids-0901,0,188902.story|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629135750/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-alex-rodriguez-steroids-0901,0,188902.story|archive-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref>

On February 28, 2010, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Rodriguez had received treatment from Canadian sports doctor [[Anthony Galea]] in March 2009.<ref name=balco>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/sports/01galea.html|title=Taking Balco Approach, Authorities Interview Athletes Linked to Galea|date=February 28, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=December 15, 2009 | first=Michael S. | last=Schmidt}}</ref> In 2011, Galea reached a plea agreement for bringing unapproved and mislabeled drugs into the United States, including [[human growth hormone]] (HGH) and [[Actovegin]]. Galea confirmed to the [[Associated Press]] that he had treated Rodriguez but claimed that he had only prescribed [[anti-inflammatories]].<ref name="Galea">{{cite news|date=March 8, 2010|title=Charged doc says he wrote A-Rod script|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=4976904|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref>

===Biogenesis scandal===
{{main|Biogenesis scandal}}
Between 2010 and 2012, Rodriguez reportedly received HGH from Biogenesis of America, an anti-aging clinic in [[Coral Gables, Florida]], run by Bosch.<ref name="schmidt_04112013">{{cite news|last1=Schmidt|first1=Michael S.|last2=Eder|first2=Steve|date=April 11, 2013|title=Baseball Pays for Clinic Documents Tied to Doping Case|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/sports/baseball/documents-at-anti-aging-clinic-up-for-sale-in-doping-case.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606173223/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/sports/baseball/documents-at-anti-aging-clinic-up-for-sale-in-doping-case.html|archive-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> For much of the summer of 2013, it had been expected that Rodriguez would be suspended for his role in the scandal. The first definitive confirmation came on August 3, 2013, when MLB rebuffed the players' union's last-minute offer to negotiate. Instead, it allowed Rodriguez until the afternoon of August 4 to reach an agreement regarding a suspension or greater punishment for his role in the Biogenesis affair.<ref>{{cite web|last=Townsend|first=Mark|date=August 3, 2013|title=MLB, Yankees done negotiating settlements with A-Rod|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/report-mlb-yankees-done-negotiating-settlements-rod-211418975.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807033848/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/report-mlb-yankees-done-negotiating-settlements-rod-211418975.html|archive-date=August 7, 2013|access-date=August 3, 2013|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=}}</ref>

On August 5, MLB suspended Rodriguez from August 8 through the end of the 2014 season for violating the league's PED policy, a term that was to include a total of 211 regular-season games plus any postseason games. He was one of 13 players suspended for their roles in the scandal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Tim|date=August 5, 2013|title=Alex Rodriguez, 12 other players suspended by MLB for Biogenesis ties|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/alex-rodriguez--12-other-players-suspended-by-mlb-for-biogenesis-ties-190349300.html|access-date=August 13, 2013|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=}}</ref> In its official statement, MLB announced that the suspension was based on Rodriguez's "use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years" and "for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hoch|first1=Bryan|last2=Nowak|first2=Joey|date=August 6, 2013|title=A-Rod suspended through 2014 season|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130729&content_id=55168796&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=August 6, 2013|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> Although the standard punishment for a first offense under MLB's drug policy is 50 games, MLB had the option of suspending Rodriguez for a longer term under the collective bargaining agreement if it had determined that his actions constituted conduct detrimental to baseball.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haudricourt|first=Tom|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/ryan-braun-suspension-includes-violation-for-basic-agreement-b9965565z1-217697481.html|title=Ryan Braun suspension includes violation for basic agreement|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref>

Almost immediately after the suspension was announced, Rodriguez announced that he would appeal. He was the only player to do so; the others accepted season-ending 50-game suspensions without appeal.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 5, 2013|title=MLB suspends 13, including A-Rod|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9540755/mlb-bans-13-including-alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-2014|access-date=August 13, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref> Although MLB commissioner [[Bud Selig]] had the option of using his best-interests-of-baseball powers to remove Rodriguez from the field immediately, he chose to suspend Rodriguez under the drug agreement and not the CBA, allowing Rodriguez to continue playing while the appeal was under way. The proposed suspension would include a global lock clause, which would also prevent him from playing in other known leagues, such as [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] and the [[Korea Baseball Championship]], as the leagues in those nations honor any suspensions imposed by MLB.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Rodriguez hired New York criminal defense lawyer Joe Tacopina.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2014/11/rods-lawyer-declares-victory-no-indictment.html |title=A-Rod's Lawyer Declares Victory: 'He Didn't Get Indicted' |work=New York Intelligencer |last=Fishman |first=Steve |date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

A lengthy arbitration process followed, but the suspension was upheld on January 11, 2014. However, because Rodriguez was allowed to play during the appeal process, this effectively reduced the suspension to 162 games, the entirety of the 2014 regular-season schedule. Because Rodriguez was on the suspended list retroactive through August 31, the suspension would have included the postseason if the Yankees had qualified, although the team failed to reach the playoffs. Rodriguez issued a statement announcing that he would challenge the decision in federal court.<ref name=162games /> On February 7, 2014, Rodriguez announced his decision to abandon his lawsuit and accept the suspension for the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite web|author=Matthews, Wallace|date=February 7, 2014|title=Alex Rodriguez drops lawsuits|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10420424/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-withdraws-lawsuit-overturn-suspension|access-date=February 7, 2014|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> In March 2014, multiple sources reported that Rodriguez had refused to pay the balance of his legal fees, which amounted to more than $3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Townsend|first=Mark|date=March 23, 2014|title=Report: Alex Rodriguez still owes as much as $3 million in legal fees|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/report-alex-rodriguez-still-owes-much-3-million-074157398--mlb.html|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=March 20, 2014|title=Alex Rodriguez's refusal to pay lawyers latest in series of bad acts|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24493066/alex-rodriguez-so-far-refuses-to-pay-large-portion-of-legal-fees|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185308/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24493066/alex-rodriguez-so-far-refuses-to-pay-large-portion-of-legal-fees|archive-date=March 20, 2014|access-date=March 4, 2015|work=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> In July 2014, Rodriguez was sued by his lawyers for $380,000 in unpaid legal fees.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thompson|first1=Teri|last2=Red|first2=Christian|last3=O'Keeffe|first3=Michael|date=July 15, 2014|title=Alex Rodriguez sued by lawyer over $380K in unpaid legal|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-team/alex-rodriguez-sued-lawyer-380k-unpaid-legal-article-1.1866604|access-date=June 19, 2015|work=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=July 14, 2014|title=Alex Rodriguez sued over lawyer fees|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11215742/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-sued-alleged-unpaid-attorney-fees|access-date=June 19, 2015|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In November 2014, it was revealed that in the previous January, Rodriguez had admitted to the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Weaver|first=Jay|date=November 5, 2014|title=Alex Rodriguez's DEA confession: Yes, I used steroids from fake Miami doctor|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/article3578762.html|access-date=November 5, 2014|website=[[Miami Herald]]|publisher=}}</ref> This was contrary to his comments of 18 days earlier when he had vehemently refuted the allegations and denied having used human growth hormones.

== A-Rod Corp ==
Rodriguez founded A-Rod Corp, a holding company, in 1996 and the company began making its first investments in 2003. Through the company, Rodriguez has invested in a series of companies in the technology, real estate, wellness, and entertainment industries.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kallergis|first=Katherine|date=October 2019|title=A-Rod's NYC And South Florida Real Estate Playbook|url=https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/a-rods-real-estate-playbook/|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=[[The Real Deal (magazine)|The Real Deal]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2008, Rodriguez founded Newport Property Construction, a real-estate development firm.

In 2012, he founded Monument Capital Management, which has acquired more than $1 billion of real estate assets in 16 states.<ref>{{cite web|last=Locke|first=Taylor|date=November 7, 2019|title=A-Rod: 'I work so much harder at my business than I did at baseball'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/07/ex-mlb-star-alex-rodriguez-i-work-harder-at-business-than-baseball.html|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=[[CNBC]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Monument Capital Management {{!}} LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/monumentcapmgmt/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805091225/https://www.linkedin.com/company/monumentcapmgmt |archive-date=2024-08-05 |access-date=2025-01-20 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chen|first=Joyce|date=September 26, 2019|title=Alex Rodriguez Buys a Second Residential Building in NYC|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/alex-rodriguez-buys-a-second-residential-building-in-nyc|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=[[Architectural Digest]]|language=en-us}}</ref>

=== Investments ===
A-Rod Corp has invested in various companies including [[coconut water]] brand [[Vita Coco]], [[Wheels Up]], [[Snapchat]] and the [[virtual concert]] startup Wave.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Radford-Wattley |first=Aaron |date=January 30, 2020 |title=How much is Alex Rodriguez worth? |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/alex-rodriguez-baseball-net-worth |access-date=August 16, 2020 |website=[[Fox Business]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2020|title=Avatar-Concert Startup Wave's $30 Million Round Draws Scooter Braun, Alex Rodriguez Among Investors|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/wave-virtual-concerts-30-million-scooter-braun-alex-rodriguez-1234630376/|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en}}</ref>

Rodriguez partnered with [[Mark Mastrov]] in 2012 to create the Energy Fitness gym chain in [[Mexico City]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Barrabi|first=Thomas|date=September 10, 2019|title=Alex Rodriguez's latest investment – It's 'personal'|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/alex-rodriguez-investment-fitplan-app|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Fox Business]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Rodriguez sold a [[Mercedes-Benz]] dealership in [[League City, Texas]], to [[Group 1 Automotive]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=David|date=April 28, 2014|title=Sale removes the Alex Rodriguez name from local Mercedes dealership|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/retail/article/Sale-removes-the-Alex-Rodriguez-name-from-local-5436597.php|access-date=April 28, 2014|website=[[Houston Chronicle]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Rodriguez invested in [[NRG Esports]] alongside [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Jimmy Rollins]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rovell|first=David|date=March 17, 2016|title=Shaquille O'Neal, Alex Rodriguez among investors in NRG Esports|url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/15000505/shaquille-oneal-alex-rodriguez-jimmy-rollins-invest-nrg-esports-teams|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, A-Rod Corp gained the rights to develop [[UFC]]-branded fitness centers across southern Florida.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 10, 2019|title=Former MLB Star And Entrepreneur Alex Rodriguez To Open Second UFC Gym® In Midtown Miami|url=https://www.franchising.com/news/20191010_former_mlb_star_and_entrepreneur_alex_rodriguez_to.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=Franchising.com}}</ref> That year, A-Rod Corp purchased a major equity stake in TruFusion, a [[Las Vegas]]–based fitness studio chain,<ref>{{cite web|last=Barreira|first=Alex|date=July 17, 2020|title=A-Rod-backed fitness studio TruFusion to open first San Francisco franchise|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2020/07/17/alex-rodriguez-trufusion-fitness-studio-sf.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[San Francisco Business Times]]}}</ref> and invested in the beverage brand Dirty Lemon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Giammona|first=Craig|date=December 20, 2018|title=Coca-Cola Joins A-Rod With Stake in Text-to-Pay Beverage Brand|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-20/coca-cola-joins-a-rod-with-stake-in-text-to-pay-beverage-brand|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

In 2018, A-Rod Corp invested in Petros Pace Finance, a financier of [[green development]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gose|first=Joe|date=August 27, 2019|title=To Meet Demand for Green Buildings, Developers Get a Leg Up|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/business/green-buildings-pace-loans.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2019, the company invested in the [[co-living]] startup Bungalow, [[Acorns (company)|Acorns]] and [[Sonder Corp.]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Fox|first=Michelle|date=July 19, 2019|title=Former MLB star A-Rod wants to stop athletes from going broke|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/19/former-mlb-star-a-rod-wants-to-stop-athletes-from-going-broke.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[CNBC]]|language=en}}</ref> That same year, Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez partnered with [[telehealth]] company [[Hims, Inc.|Hims and Hers]] to provide affordable healthcare.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fields|first=Jackie|date=July 20, 2020|title=Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Partner with Company Hims & Hers on Accessible Healthcare|url=https://people.com/style/jennifer-lopez-alex-rodriguez-hims-hers-partnership/|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|language=EN}}</ref> Rodriguez also invested in Density, a technology company specializing in [[people counting]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Moriarty|first=Rick|date=July 28, 2020|title=Alex Rodriguez among group investing $51M in Syracuse startup Density|url=https://www.syracuse.com/business/2020/07/alex-rodriguez-among-group-investing-51m-in-people-counting-syracuse-startup-density.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Syracuse.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

Rodriguez became the new chairman of [[Presidente]], a Dominican beer company owned by [[Anheuser-Busch InBev]], in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swant|first=Marty|date=January 23, 2020|title=Alex Rodriguez Joins Presidente As Chairman And Co-Owner To Pitch Dominican Beer To The Masses|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/martyswant/2020/01/23/alex-rodriguez-joins-presidente-as-chairman-and-co-owner-to-pitch-dominican-beer-to-the-masses/|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Forbes]]|language=en}}</ref> A-Rod Corp invested in Nova Credit, a financial technology company, in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Webb|first=Nick|date=July 19, 2020|title=Inside Track: The Edge among the stars aligning for Nova Credit start-up|language=en|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/inside-track-the-edge-among-the-stars-aligning-for-nova-credit-start-up-7th9rfz2g|access-date=September 9, 2020|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

In July 2020, Rodriguez and Lopez were leading a group of investors bidding on the [[New York Mets]], and had moved to the second stage of the bidding process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29455748/brian-urlacher-travis-kelce-demarco-murray-join-jennifer-lopez-alex-rodriguez-bid-buy-mets |title=Brian Urlacher, Travis Kelce, DeMarco Murray join Jennifer Lopez-Alex Rodriguez bid to buy Mets |work=ESPN |last=McClure |first=Vaughn |date=July 13, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> The bid failed, however.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/29/baseball-hedge-fund-manager-steven-cohen-in-talks-to-buy-mlb-new-york-mets.html |title=Hedge fund manager Steven Cohen in exclusive talks to buy New York Mets |work=CNBC |last=Faber |first=David |date=August 29, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

=== The Corp Podcast ===
Rodriguez partnered with [[Barstool Sports]] in 2018 to co-create ''The Corp Podcast'' with Dan Katz aka Barstool Big Cat. The podcast interviews industry leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs.<ref name=":12">{{cite web|last=Fernandez|first=Henry|date=August 8, 2019|title=Barstool Sports, Alex Rodriguez aim for home run with return of 'The Corp' podcast|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/barstool-sports-alex-rodriguez-corp-podcast|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[Fox Business]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Season 1 featured [[Kobe Bryant]], [[Gary Vaynerchuk]], [[Barbara Corcoran]], [[Mike Francesa]], [[Michael Rubin (businessman)|Michael Rubin]] and [[Barry Sternlicht]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Baysinger|first=Tim|date=December 5, 2018|title=Alex Rodriguez Partners With Barstool Sports on Podcast 'The Corp'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/alex-rodriguez-partners-with-barstool-sports-on-podcast-the-corp/|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=[[TheWrap]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Season 2 featured [[Kevin Bacon]], [[Martha Stewart]], [[Danica Patrick]], [[Stephanie McMahon]], [[Maria Bartiromo]], and [[Howard Schultz]].<ref name=":12" />

==Personal life==
[[File:A-Rod2 adjusted.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Rodriguez at batting practice in August 2009]]
Rodriguez grew up with two half-siblings, Joe and Suzy, who were born in the Dominican Republic and are children from his mother's first marriage.<ref name=curry>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/sports/baseball/04rodriguez.html|title=Alex and Victor Rodriguez Are Worlds Apart|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 4, 2007|access-date=November 20, 2012}}</ref> Rodriguez's father, Victor, left the family in [[Miami]] when Alex was nine years old and moved to New York. The next time that Alex heard from him, was the day of the 1993 MLB draft. They met again in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportscasting.com/alex-rodriguez-waited-16-years-heartbreaking-reunion-father/ |title=Alex Rodriguez Waited 16 Years for a Heartbreaking Yet Memorable Reunion With His Father |work=Sportscasting.com |last=Elman |first=Jake |date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref>

Rodriguez also has a half-brother, Victor M. Rodriguez, who was born to Alex's father Victor Sr. and his then-wife Pouppe Martinez in 1960.<ref name=curry/> The couple divorced a year later, and Victor Jr. grew up with his mother.<ref name=curry /> Victor Jr., who is an officer in the [[United States Air Force]], fell out of touch with Alex for 23 years, until they met at a [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] game in 2003.<ref name=curry/> Alex's nephew, [[Joe Dunand]], is a professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Clark|date=June 23, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez looks on as nephew is introduced by Miami Marlins|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/fish-bytes/article157976739.html|access-date=June 25, 2017|website=[[Miami Herald]]|publisher=}}</ref>

In 2002,<ref name=dating/> Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Scurtis, a [[psychology]] graduate<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siemaszko|first1=Corky|last2=Kennedy|first2=Helen|date=July 9, 2008|title=Cynthia Rodriguez has got brain to match her good looks|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/cynthia-rodriguez-brain-match-good-article-1.349349|access-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> he had met at a gym in Miami, married.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lisberg|first1=Adam|last2=Klarreich|first2=Kathie|last3=Goldiner|first3=Dave|date=May 21, 2007|title=As wife packs up, is A-Rod out at home?|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/05/31/2007-05-31_as_wife_packs_up_is_arod_out_at_home.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602111115/http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/05/31/2007-05-31_as_wife_packs_up_is_arod_out_at_home.html|archive-date=June 2, 2007}}</ref> Their first child, Natasha Alexander, was born on November 18, 2004. On April 21, 2008, Cynthia gave birth to their second child, Ella Alexander,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/pictures/alex-rodriguezs-best-moments-with-daughters-natasha-ella-photos/ |title=Alex Rodriguez's Best Moments With His Daughters Natasha and Ella: Photos |work=[[Us Weekly]] |last=Macke |first=Johnni |date=December 19, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> in Miami.

Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce on July 7, 2008, citing "[[Abandonment (emotional)|emotional abandonment]]" of her and their children, "extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct" by her husband.<ref name="thesmokinggun.com">{{cite web|date=July 7, 2008|title=Alex Rodriguez Divorce Filing|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0707081arod1.html|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[The Smoking Gun]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Rodriguez Divorce Filing|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/alex-rodriguez-divorce-filing|access-date=May 11, 2018|website=[[The Smoking Gun]]|date=June 12, 2014|publisher=}}</ref> Alex responded in court documents that the marriage was "irretrievably broken" but requested that allegations of his "extramarital affairs" be stricken from court records.<ref name="divorce">{{cite news|last1=Lucas|first1=Lisa|last2=Hutchinson|first2=Bill|date=September 19, 2008|title=Yankee star Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Rodriguez reach divorce settlement|work=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/yankee-star-alex-rodriguez-cynthia-rodriguez-reach-divorce-settlement-article-1.323414|access-date=October 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Curry |first=Jack |url=https://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/david-ortiz-a-rod-and-madonna/ 
|title=No More Talking About Madonna, Please |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 15, 2008 |access-date=June 9, 2018 }}</ref> The couple reached a settlement that September.<ref name=divorce /> In July, [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] responded to rumors of an affair with Alex releasing a statement saying, "I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez" and that she had "nothing to do with the state of his marriage".<ref>{{cite news|date=July 6, 2008|title=A-Rod's wife files for divorce, alleges infidelity, 'other marital misconduct'|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3475674|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309181340/http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3475674|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=August 4, 2010|website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Alex dated [[Kate Hudson]] before having a relationship with [[Cameron Diaz]] from May 2010 to September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/cameron-diaz-alex-rodriguez-break-up/ |title=Cameron Diaz & Alex Rodriguez Off Again, Says Source |work=People |last1=Baker |first1=KC |last2=Boehm |first2=Kristin |date=September 15, 2011 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> He dated model, actress, and former [[WWE Diva]] [[Torrie Wilson]] from 2011 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com//news/621815/alex-rodriguez-and-torrie-wilson-break-up-after-three-years-of-dating|title=Alex Rodriguez and Torrie Wilson Break Up After Three Years of Dating|website=[[E!]]|first=Francesca|last=Bacardi|date=February 4, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name="dating">{{cite web |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/alex-rodriguezs-dating-history/ |title=Alex Rodriguez's Dating History: Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and More |work=[[Us Weekly]] |last=Macke |first=Johnni |date=December 19, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Then, he was in a short relationship with [[Anne Wojcicki]], the founder of [[23andMe]], which ended in 2016 after dating for nearly a year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dowd|first=Maureen|date=November 18, 2017|title=The Doyenne of DNA Says: Just Chillax With Your Ex|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/18/style/anne-wojcicki-23andme-genetics.html|access-date=November 18, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In February 2017, he and singer and actress [[Jennifer Lopez]] began dating.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fernandez|first1=Alexia|date=March 9, 2017|title=Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Are Dating|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jennifer-lopez-is-dating-alex-a-rod-rodriguez-report-w471157|access-date=March 9, 2017|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> In March 2019, they announced their engagement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Calvario|first=Liz|date=March 9, 2019|title=Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Are Engaged – See Her Massive Ring!|url=https://www.etonline.com/jennifer-lopez-and-alex-rodriguez-are-engaged-see-her-massive-ring-92838|access-date=March 10, 2019|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]}}</ref> In a 2020 interview with Devin Banerjee, Rodriguez described Lopez as "a powerhouse" saying, "I've never met anyone who has the work ethic, the vision, the principles that Jennifer possesses. She does so many things that people call her a triple threat. I call her an octopus threat."<ref>{{cite web|last=Banerjee|first=Devin|date=September 16, 2020|title='From pinstripes to the boardroom,' A-Rod is building investment clout with lessons from Warren Buffett and Magic Johnson|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-pinstripes-boardroom-a-rod-building-investment-banerjee-cfa|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=[[LinkedIn]]}}</ref> In April 2021, he and Lopez announced the end of their engagement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clements|first=Erin|date=April 15, 2021|title=Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez announce breakup in TODAY exclusive|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jennifer-lopez-alex-rodriguez-announce-breakup-today-exclusive-t215133|access-date=April 16, 2021|website=[[Today (American TV program)|TODAY]]}}</ref>

{{as of|2011}}, Rodriguez is represented by sports agent [[Dan Lozano]].<ref name="SI ARod Agent">{{cite magazine|author=Heyman|first=Jon|date=November 29, 2011|title=As winter Meetings Approach, these are the storylines to watch|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/11/28/december.storylines/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204043810/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/11/28/december.storylines/|archive-date=December 4, 2011|access-date=January 21, 2014|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=CNN}}</ref> As of 2019, he is represented by Jon Rosen of [[WME/IMG]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Passan |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Passan |date=2019-09-05 |title=Sources: Correa switches agents; A-Rod advised |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27545461/sources-correa-switches-agents-rod-advised |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
In 2003, Rodriguez gave $3.9&nbsp;million to the University of Miami to renovate its baseball stadium.<ref name="ESPN Rodriguez Miami">{{cite news|date=February 13, 2009|title=A-Rod admits 'mistakes' at dedication|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3906391|access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The new facility was renamed "[[Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field]]".<ref name="ESPN Rodriguez Miami" /> He is an ardent University of Miami fan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/alex-rodriguez-wears-miami-chain-at-college-football-game-c260702186 |title=Alex Rodriguez donned a University of Miami turnover chain and cheered his team to victory |work=MLB.com |last=Mearns |first=Andrew |date=November 5, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Despite not having attended the school, he received the University of Miami's [[Edward T. Foote II]] Alumnus of Distinction Award in 2007 as an honorary alumnus.<ref>{{cite web|title=UMAA Awards Program|url=http://www6.miami.edu/alumni/umaa/awards/pastrecipients.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926083837/http://www6.miami.edu/alumni/umaa/awards/pastrecipients.htm|archive-date=September 26, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013|website=[[University of Miami]] Alumni Association|publisher=}}</ref> Rodriguez was named an "honorary alumnus" of the university in 2004. He is a member of the University of Miami's board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Trustees|url=http://www6.miami.edu/communications/trustees/members.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321034853/http://www6.miami.edu/communications/trustees/members.html|archive-date=March 21, 2015|access-date=August 13, 2013|website=[[University of Miami]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Rodriguez is a Miami-Dade [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys & Girls Clubs]] Board Member. Rodriguez and A-Rod Corp donated $1 million to Boy & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade in 2010, building a state-of-the-art educational center for students.<ref>{{cite web|last=Raynor|first=Grace|date=September 28, 2015|title=A-Rod gives $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-gives-1-million-to-charity/c-152054618|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011010103/https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-gives-1-million-to-charity/c-152054618|archive-date=October 11, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=[[MLB.com]]|language=en}}</ref> He donated an additional $1 million to Boys & Girls Club in conjunction with MLB.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 29, 2015|title=New York Yankees All-Star and Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Alumnus Alex Rodriguez Donated $1 Million Check to Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade|url=https://bgcmia.org/new-york-yankees-all-star-and-boys-girls-clubs-of-miami-dade-alumnus-alex-rodriguez-donated-1-million-check-to-boys-girls-clubs-of-miami-dade/|access-date=September 29, 2015|website=[[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys & Girls Club]]}}</ref> In addition, Rodriguez created a scholarship program for Boys and Girls Club alumni to attend the University of Miami, sponsoring more than 25 students since inception of the program.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Navarro|first=Manny|date=June 12, 2015|title=A-Rod fills in scholarship gaps for students who walked 'the same path'|work=[[Miami Herald]]|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article23873965.html|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref> In 2017, Rodriguez and A-Rod Corp donated $500,000 to the [[Miami Herbert Business School|University of Miami School of Business Administration]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Harrison|first=Chloe|date=February 22, 2017|title=Alex Rodriguez donates $500,000 to UM School of Business|url=https://www.themiamihurricane.com/2017/02/22/alex-rodriguez-donates-500000-to-um-school-of-business/|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=[[The Miami Hurricane]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2019, Rodriguez, along with Jennifer Lopez, donated a year of meals from Tiller & Hatch to [[Tennessee]] elementary students.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Kane|first=Caitlin|date=October 24, 2019|title=Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez donate a year's worth of food to school after teacher posts about kids in need|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jennifer-lopez-and-alex-rodriguez-donate-one-years-worth-of-food-to-school-from-tiller-and-hatch-meals-teacher-post/|access-date=August 2, 2020|website=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2020, Rodriguez and Lopez donated 20,000 prepared Tiller & Hatch meals to help hospitality workers in the Miami area who had lost their jobs during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marr|first=Madeleine|date=April 21, 2020|title=Hotel workers in Miami are out of work. JLo and ARod are feeding 20,000 of them|work=[[Miami Herald]]|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/miami-com-news/article242167666.html|access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> He is also a member of the [[Paley Center for Media]]'s board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=April 2, 2020|title=Alex Rodriguez Among New Members Of The Paley Center's Board Of Trustees; Shari Redstone Joins Executive Committee|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/alex-rodriguez-new-members-the-paley-centers-board-of-trustees-shari-redstone-executive-committee-1202897903/|access-date=August 8, 2020|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Championships earned or shared
|-
!Title
!{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
!Dates
!{{Tooltip|Ref|References}}
|-
| [[American League]] [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting champion]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1996
|<ref name=ap081216/>
|-
| American League [[List of American League pennant winners|champion]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2009 American League Championship Series|2009]]
|<ref name=ap012410/>
|-
| [[World Series]] [[List of World Series champions|champion]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2009 World Series|2009]]
|<ref name=ap012410/>
|}
Rodriguez was included on the ballot for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] class of {{bhofy|2022}} when it was announced on November 22, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2022-hall-of-fame-ballot-mlb |title=Every player making HOF ballot debut in '22 |first=Manny |last=Randhawa |website=MLB.com |date=November 22, 2021 |accessdate=November 22, 2021}}</ref> In his first three years of eligibility, his highest vote total is 35.7%. The threshold for election is 75%.

;Major league, minor league and high school awards and exhibition team selections
{{div col}}
* 1st Team High School All-American at infield (1993)
* 14× American League [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]]<ref name=ap081216/>
** 7× as shortstop ([[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]]–[[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|98]], [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]]–[[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|03]])
** 7× as third baseman ([[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2004]]–[[2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|08]], [[2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2010]]–[[2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|11]])
* 3× American League [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] (2003, 2005, 2007)
* [[Babe Ruth Award]] (2009)<ref name=ap012410/>
* 3× [[Babe Ruth Home Run Award]] (2002, 2003, 2007)
* ''Baseball America'' 1st-Team Minor League All-Star at shortstop (1995)
* 4× ''Baseball America'' 1st-Team Major League All-Star 
** 3× at shortstop (1998, 2000–03)
** at third base (2005)
* 2× [[Baseball America Major League Player of the Year|''Baseball America'' Major League Player of the Year]] (2000, 2002)
* [[Gatorade Player of the Year awards|Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year]] (1993)
* GIBBY/[[This Year in Baseball Awards]] for Hitter of the Year (2007)
* GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Awards for Individual Performance of the Year (2005)
* 6× GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Awards for Outstanding Player of the Year (1996, 1998, 2001–03, 2007)
* 4× [[Hank Aaron Award]] (2001–03, 2007)
* 10× [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award]]
* 13× [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award]]
* 2× [[Minor League Baseball]] All-Star (1994 Midwest League, 1995 Triple-A) 
* Pepsi Clutch Performer of the Year (2007)
* 2× [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] at shortstop (2002, 2003)
* Seattle Mariners Minor League Player of the Year (1994)
* 2× Seattle Mariners Player of the Year (1998, 2000)
* 10× [[Silver Slugger Award]] 
** 7× at shortstop (1996, 1998–2003)
** 3× at third base (2005, 2007, 2008)
* 3× [[Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award|''The Sporting News'' Player of the Year]] (1996, 2002, 2007)
* 3× Texas Rangers Player of the Year (2001–03)
* [[World Baseball Classic]] participant for [[United States national baseball team|United States]] ([[2006 World Baseball Classic|2006]])<ref name=espn20060107/>
{{div col end}}

==Achievements==
<small>Notes: ''Per [[Baseball-Reference.com]].''</small>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ American League statistical leader
|-
!Category
!{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
!Seasons
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|Batting champion]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"|1996
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders|Doubles leader]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1996
|-
| [[Extra base hit]]s leader 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2001
|-
| [[Hit (baseball)|Hits]] leader 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 1998
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|Home run leader]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2001–03, 2005, 2007
|-
| [[On-base plus slugging]] leader 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2005, 2007
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|Runs batted in leader]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 
| style="text-align:center;"| 2002, 2007
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders|Runs scored leader]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
|-
| [[Slugging percentage]] leader 
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
|-
| Total bases leader 
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007
|}

==Records==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Major league records
|-
!Record
!Total
!Season(s)
|-
|Most career home runs by a New York-born player
|696
|1995-2016
|-
|Most career [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slams]]
|25
|1996-2015
|-
|Most [[Run (baseball)|runs]] in a season ([[shortstop|SS]])
|141
|1996
|-
|Most [[extra base hit]]s in a season (SS)
|91
|1996
|-
|Highest [[slugging percentage]] in a season (SS)
|.631
|1996
|-
|Most [[total bases]] in a season (SS)
|393
|2001
|-
|Most [[home run]]s in a season (SS)
|57
|2002
|-
|Most home runs in the month of April (tied)
|14
|2007
|-
|Fewest games to hit 12 home runs to start a season (tied)
|15
|2007
|-
|Fewest games to hit 13 and 14 home runs to start a season
|18
|2007
|-
|Youngest ever to hit [[500 home run club|500 home runs]]
|32y, 8d
|2007
|-
|Most home runs by a third baseman (season)
|52<sup>†</sup>
|2007
|}
:<sup>†</sup>: Rodriguez hit 2 home runs as a DH in the 2007 season.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ American League records
|-
!Record
!Total
!Season(s)
|-
|Most [[home run]]s in consecutive seasons ([[right-handed|RH]])
|109
|2001–2002
|-
|Most home runs in the month of April
|14
|2007
|-
|Fewest games to hit 10 home runs to start a season
|14
|2007
|-
|Fewest games to hit 12 home runs to start a season
|15
|2007
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ New York Yankees Records
|-
!Record
!Total
!Season(s)
|-
|Most home runs in a season at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|home]] (RH)
|26
|2005, 2007
|-
|Most [[home run]]s in a season ([[right-handed|RH]])
|54
|2007
|-
|Most RBIs in a postseason
|18
|2009
|-
|Most home runs in a postseason
|6<sup>†</sup>
|2009
|}
:<sup>†</sup>: Tied with [[Bernie Williams]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball|Hispanic and Latino Americans}}
* [[30–30 club]]
* [[50 home run club]]
* [[List of highest paid Major League Baseball players]]
* [[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |last=Bryant |first=Howard |author-link=Howard Bryant |date= October 1, 2007 |title= King of Gotham |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=arod2007&redirected=true |website= [[ESPN.com]] }}
* {{cite journal |last=Fishman |first=Steve |date=  December 1, 2013 |title=Chasing A-Rod |url=http://nymag.com/news/sports/alex-rodriguez-2013-12/ |journal= [[New York (magazine)|New York]]}}
* {{cite journal |last= Mnookin |first= Seth |author-link=Seth Mnookin |date= April 2008 |title=Lightning Rod |url=http://www.mensvogue.com/health/feature/articles/2008/04/arod |journal=[[Men's Vogue]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106011502/http://www.mensvogue.com/health/feature/articles/2008/04/arod |archive-date= January 6, 2009}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Alex Rodriguez}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=121347|espn=3115|br=r/rodrial01|fangraphs=1274|brm=rodrig006ale|retro=R/Prodra001}}
*{{IMDb name|0735710|Alex Rodriguez}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090406074830/http://multimedia.foxsports.com/baseball/new-york-yankees/alex-rodriguez.htm Alex Rodriguez Video on FoxSports Video Archive]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090125075036/http://www.bleedingblueandteal.com/01-2009/arnes-retros-alex-rodriguez/ Summary of Rodriguez's early professional career]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach}}}}
{{succession box|before=[[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]]<br>[[Paul Konerko]]<br>[[Magglio Ordóñez]]<br>[[Brian Roberts (baseball)|Brian Roberts]]<br>[[Jason Giambi]]<br>[[Jason Giambi]]<br>[[Robinson Canó]]<br>[[Justin Morneau]]|title=[[MLB Player of the Month|American League Player of the Month]]|years=August 1996<br>July & August 2002<br>August 2003<br>May 2005<br>August 2005<br>May 2006<br>April 2007<br>June 2007|after=[[Frank Thomas]]<br>[[Manny Ramirez]]<br>[[Alfonso Soriano]]<br>[[Travis Hafner]]<br>[[David Ortiz]]<br>[[Joe Mauer]]<br>[[Justin Morneau]]<br>[[Hideki Matsui]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Albert Belle]]<br>[[Barry Bonds]]|title=[[Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award|The Sporting News Player of the Year]]|years=1996<br>2002|after=[[Ken Griffey Jr.]]<br>[[Albert Pujols]]}}
{{Succession box|before=[[Albert Belle]]<br>[[Barry Bonds]]<br>[[Ryan Howard]]|title=[[Players Choice Award|Players Choice Player of the Year]]|years=1996<br>2002<br>2007|after=[[Mark McGwire]]<br>[[Albert Pujols]]<br>[[Albert Pujols]]}}
{{succession box|before='''first'''|title=Pepsi MLB Clutch Performer of the Year|years=2007|after=[[CC Sabathia]]}}
{{succession box| before = [[Alex Ochoa]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = June 5, 1997 | after = [[John Olerud]]}}
{{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Alex}}
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