The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez have a complicated history, to say the least, and the franchise has not indicated any intention to retire his No. 13.
But one of A-Rod’s former teammates believes the three-time MVP deserves a spot in Monument Park.
“I think [the Yankees] should retire his number,” CC Sabathia told WFAN’s “Evan and Tiki” on Friday. “I think Seattle should retire his number, too. I mean, he’s one of the greatest players to ever play baseball.”
Rodriguez won two of his MVP awards with the Yankees and, like Sabathia, was vital to their 2009 World Series title – the last time the Bronx Bombers were champions.
But PED-plagued scandals, including a full-year suspension in 2014, and a lawsuit against the team doctor alleging a misdiagnosis of a hip injury has not exactly left him in good gracces with the Yankees brass.
In fact, the Yankees' decision to give No. 13 to Joey Gallo in 2021 likely signaled where they stand with the former third baseman. It was a decision that Rodriguez acknowledged he was not happy about last year.
Sabathia, meanwhile, believes that Rodriguez is just misunderstood.
“Alex was probably one of the smartest baseball players I’ve ever played with,” he added. “Numerous times, I’d get the ball from him after an out, I’d grab the ball with my bare hand between third base and the pitcher’s mound and he would be like, ‘Hey, this guy is swinging first pitch here,’ or ‘you might wanna throw a two-seamer here.’
"I think people hear stories and try to villainize him, but Alex is a good dude. In a team setting, he does well.”