Twenty-two seasons after entering baseball as a teenage prodigy, Alex Rodriguez will leave the game as one of its most polarizing legends. The Yankees will release the 41-year-old following the club's matchup Friday against Tampa Bay, signaling the end of the slugger's days playing as a Yankee, A-Rod and the team announced Sunday.
Here's a sampling of how some current and former major league players reacted to the news.
Without @AROD, my Ranger career would've lasted 2 years...tops. Prep, work, love of the game. Thanks, Al. #rrrruta pic.twitter.com/ePwFAyeNXW
— Michael Young (@MikeyY626) August 7, 2016
ARod to be "special NYY advisor" thru 2017 #letyourimaginationrunwild @masnOrioles @Orioles pic.twitter.com/i5Sxb3xHzL
— Jim Palmer (@Jim22Palmer) August 7, 2016
A-Rod done... How will you remember him???
— Willie Bloomquist (@williebloom) August 7, 2016
#ARod pic.twitter.com/3x7tHlEYRv
— Jeremy Guthrie (@TheRealJGuts) August 7, 2016
Damon: "When you get to know A-Rod, he's a special person, special teammate, & one of my favorite teammates of all-time" #RedSox #Yankees
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 7, 2016
Everybody asks what kind of teammate was AROD? He was awesome! One of the best students of the game and teachers I have ever been around.
— Shelley Duncan (@shelldunc) August 7, 2016