Alex Rodriguez might have a chance to chase down 700 home runs in Miami.
The Yankees slugger is set to play his final game in the Bronx on Friday when the club hosts the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Following the game, New York is expected to release the controversial, struggling designated hitter and he's slated to take up an advisory role with the club.
Rodriguez will still receive the roughly $7 million he's still owed this season as well as the $17 million the Yankees owe him next season, but technically he'll be free to sign with another club following his release.
The Marlins have had internal discussions about signing Rodriguez, which would most likely be after rosters expand on Sept. 1 if it happens, according to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball. The one-time World Series champion grew up playing baseball in Florida.
While they've discussed such a possibility internally, Heyman reports there has been no momentum toward actually committing to signing the three-time American League MVP, who has never played in the National League.
It was widely expected that if Rodriguez were to sign with another club, it would be in the AL, where he could serve as DH. His days on the left side of the infield appear to be long gone, but the Yankees did try working him out at first base earlier this season.
With Justin Bour currenty on the disabled list with a high-ankle sprain, the Marlins could perhaps place Rodriguez at first base to try and fill the void. Derek Dietrich, however, has mostly filled in for Bour there and is hitting .421 in August.
The Marlins (60-54) are in the midst of a playoff push as though they trail the Nationals (67-46) by 7 1/2 games in the NL East, they enter Friday holding onto the second Wild Card spot in the NL, with a half-game lead over the Cardinals (60-55).
Rodriguez, 41, has struggled mightily this season. Through 64 games, he's hitting just .199 with nine homers and 30 RBIs. In his first full game action since July 30, Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with an RBI against the Red Sox on Thursday.
The slugger has four hits in his last 42 at-bats, but sits at 696 homers, so his chase for 700 could lead to someone signing him to sell some extra tickets.
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