'Time to go home': A-Rod to retire after 2017

2:39 PM ET

• 
  Andrew MarchandESPN Senior Writer
  Close

  Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »

• print

Alex Rodriguez plans on retiring at the end of the 2017 season after playing out his contract with the New York Yankees, the designated hitter told ESPN on Wednesday.

"I won't play after next year," Rodriguez told ESPN on Wednesday. "I've really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be dad."

It will end what has been a legendary and controversy-filled career for Rodriguez, who turns 41 on July 27. He is signed through next season, which is the final year of his 10-year, $275 million contract.

He enters 2016 with 687 home runs.

The 20-year veteran was certainly one of baseball's most improbable success stories in 2015, turning back the clock in several offensive categories after serving a year-long suspension. Rodriguez, who will turn 41 on July 27, tallied his highest number of home runs (33) and runs scored (83) since 2008, most at-bats (523) and games played (151) since 2007, and his best slugging percentage (.486) since 2010.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

'Time to go home': A-Rod to retire after 2017