Eleven years ago today the New York Yankees and The Texas Rangers pulled off a blockbuster trade that would change baseball forever. Alex Rodriguez the best shortstop in baseball would go to the Yankees and agree to play third base. The 2003 AL MVP would change positions for Derek Jeter. Rodriguez and Captain Derek Jeter would team up to be one of the most talked about and best left side of an infield ever.
Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees were up 3-0 on the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. Rodriguez
batted 339 in the 2004 playoffs however things changed for A-Rod when the Yankees blew the series.
Of course their was the famous play when he slapped the glove of Bronson Arroyo. Rodriguez took some criticism and the next year A-Rod had a miserable postseason. In 2006 A-Rod had another brutal postseason and Joe Torre even dropped him all the way down to eight in the order. In 2007 the Yankees had another bad postseason and Alex was not much better.
The Papers and the media made a lot of drama out of the frayed relationship between Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. When the Yankees lost postseason series people worried about the chemistry between the two stars. However when they won the World Series no one questioned the friendship. Personally I
never believed that they were not friends. If they weren't why would they always be together in the dugout sitting together ? The papers and the news always over blew the relationship. Jeter and A-Rod played in many all star games together and always will have an odd friend ship. They definitely had their differences but their friendship was apparently strong enough to make it work. They had their
highs and their lows. They make their case for one of baseballs best dynamic duos ever.
Alex Rodriguez won two MVP Awards in his career with the Yankees. In 2005 Rodriguez blasted 48 home runs. He also batted 321 with 130 RBI. In 2007 Alex Rodriguez had possibly his best season ever. Rodriguez hit 54 homers swiped 24 bags and knocked in 156 RBI. Rodriguez hit his 500th home run in the 2007 season. A-Rod was named to the All Star team with the Yankees from 2004-2008. He had at least 30 homers and 100 RBI in every one of those seasons. Rodriguez also opted out of his contract and signed a 10 year $275 million deal.
The Admission and the Post Season Hero
In February 2009 Alex Rodriguez admitted that he used PED's during the 2001-2003 seasons with the Texas Rangers. It was shocking to many baseball fans. On top of all of this A-Rod would get hip surgery and miss the first month of the baseball season. When he returned he hit a home run on the very first pitch he saw. During the 2009 season Rodriguez hit two homers in one inning on the last day of the season to get to 30 homers and 100 RBI once again. Rodriguez would silence the critics and have a monster postseason. Rodriguez would have a monster ALCS and ALDS before hitting a game winning double in the World Series. Perhaps two of A-Rods biggest homers ever were his game tying homerun off of Joe Nathan and his extra inning game tying homer off of Brian Fuentes. The Yankees would win their 27th World Series and A-Rod was the best player throughout the postseason run.
A-Rod would have another 30 home run and 100 RBI season with the Yankees. He would make it to another All Star game. He would also belt his 600th career home run. In 2011 Rodriguez would be named an all star once again. However injuries would hurt his second half. For the first time in 13
years Alex would not have a 30 homer and 100 RBI seasons. In 2012 Rodriguez battled more injuries and hit a low point in his career when he was pinch hit for in the postseason. The Yankees were bounced out of the ALCS by the Tigers and Rodriguez took a lot of the blame despite most of the team playing terrible. Rodriguez hit just 118 during the whole postseason. During the offseason Rodriguez would under go more surgery and the surgery would sideline him for some time in 2013.
2013 and the Biogenesis Suspension
In 2013 Alex Rodriguez was Suspended for his involvement in the Biogenesis case. However he appealed the suspension and was able to play when he returned from injury in August. Rodriguez added a boost to the Yankees lineup and his return added some ratings and excitement. He played in
just 44 games and hit 7 home runs. His two biggest homers were the record breaking grand slam against the San Francisco Giants. A-Rod hit the grand slam that helped the Yankees win the game , it broke the all time grand slam record. Perhaps the best moment was when he was intentionally hit by Ryan Dempster against the Boston Red Sox. He then responded by blasting a home run. After the season Alex continued to defend himself however his efforts were for nothing. Rodriguez was suspended for all of the 2014 season. The suspension left a man who breathes baseball off the field for the first time in probably 30 years. Now the suspension is over and Rodriguez looks to make his
return.
11 years since the deal
So did the trade work out? Of course the trade worked out. Alex Rodriguez put up monster numbers. Rodriguez even without playing in 2014 and being injured from 2011-2013 is still fifth in WAR amongst active players. Rodriguez is sixth all time in home runs in Yankee history , despite just ten seasons. A-Rod may have cost the Yankees a lot of money however he has also made them a lot of money. Rodriguez has helped the ticket sales , tv ratings and memorabilia sales. A-Rod has become one of the most notable figures in Sports history for the good and bad. If A-Rods first 11 years are indicative of anything we have no idea what to expect from the next few. Rodriguez has had moments that are not pretty during the Yankee tenure , however he has had some great moments as well. The main reason it worked out is because the Yankees one the 2009 title and he was a major part of it. Now Alex is trying to make a come back and we have to see what he has left.
@realpete13
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