Alex Rodriguez would love to see his no. 13 retired by the New York Yankees and for him to have a place inside Monument Park at Yankee Stadium someday.
Speaking to WFAN radio in New York, Rodriguez said he believes his job as an ESPN and FOX baseball analyst has played a role in the team not honoring him.
“I’m too critical to the Yankees, and that doesn’t help my case,” said Rodriguez, who noted he has not had discussions about the honor with the team. “But I get paid to tell the truth and if you guys ask me a question I’m going to tell you exactly as I see it and not sugar-coat because I want my number retired. If it’s not retired, so be it.”
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Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees in 2004 and played over 1,500 games in 12 seasons in New York. While there, he won two AL MVP awards and helped the Yankees win the 2009 World Series, the franchise’s most recent title.
The Yankees finished fourth in the AL East in 2023 and missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. They have reached three ALCS’ since Rodriguez’s departure, losing all three to the Houston Astros.
After Rodriguez retired following the 2016 season, no Yankees player wore no. 13 until the team gave it to Joey Gallo, who was acquired in 2021. That decision “did not make me happy,” according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez did say that his relationship with team ownership is “fine,” but receiving the highest honor a Yankees player could achieve is something he really wants.
“Yeah, of course it bothers me,” Rodriguez said. “It’s less about bother, but of course it would be nice to be recognized in one of the coolest places to be in Yankee history, but that’s not my decision.”
This will now drum up conversation about whether Rodriguez should have a spot in Monument Park, but until that day comes he’ll continue to tell it like it is about his former team, all while hoping their fortunes improve.
“You have to change everything pretty much. Whatever they’ve been doing hasn’t worked,” Rodriguez said. “You can’t miss so often by so much, and I think that’s why the fan base has lost complete trust in the people making baseball decisions.
“I’m their biggest fan and I’m hoping things turn around. It just seems whatever they’re doing, it’s not working.”
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
