Alex Rodriguez's polarizing career will come to an end after the 2017 MLB season.
The Yankees designated hitter told ESPN reporter Andrew Marchand that he plans to retire once his contract expires at the end of the 2017 season.
ESPN's "SportsCenter" Twitter account revealed A-Rod's decision in a tweet on Wednesday:
BREAKING: Alex Rodriguez tells @AndrewMarchand that he will retire after 2017 season when his contract expires. pic.twitter.com/DoaUiGlxrU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2016
"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."
Rodriguez, who was also linked to a new girlfriend on Wednesday, is one of the game's all-time greats, but he's mired in controversy due to his constant link to amphetamines.
The Yankees slugger was connected to steroids during his AL MVP season in 2003 and was suspended for the entire 2014 campaign due to his relationship to the now-defunct Florida-based Biogenesis clinic and performance-enhancing drugs.
PEDs have followed in his shadow throughout his career, calling his hopes for Cooperstown into question.
A-Rod has two years left on his 10-year, $275 million mega deal with the Yankees. He slugged 33 homers last season.
Rodriguez, who will turn 41 in July, was selected by the Mariners with the first overall pick of the 1993 MLB Draft. His career highlights include 14 All-Star appearances, a World Series championship with the Yankees in 2009, three AL MVP Awards (2003, '05 and '07), two Gold Glove Awards and 10 Silver Slugger Awards.
Rodriguez enters the 2016 season with a .297 career batting average, 3,070 hits, 2,055 RBIs and 687 homers, which ranks fourth on the MLB all-time home runs list. He needs 75 to catch all-time leader Barry Bonds (762), while he is also yet to leap Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).
After his former teammate Derek Jeter had a notable retirement tour in 2014, it'll be interesting to see how these two years play out for Rodriguez.
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