Alex Rodriguez blames criticism of Yankees for team not retiring his number, instead of the other obvious reason
Retired baseball superstar and current analyst Alex Rodriguez said this week he was not happy to see the New York Yankees give out his old number to Joey Gallo when he was acquired at the 2021 trade deadline.
He also added it definitely bothers him his number has not been retired by the team, and that he thinks he knows why it hasn't been retired.
It is because, in his mind, he is too critical of the Yankees as an analyst and that is causing the team to hold a grudge.
Rodriguez made the comments during an appearance on WFAN's afternoon radio show with Tiki Barber and Evan Roberts.
“With my job on TV, I’m too critical to the Yankees, and that doesn’t help my case,” Rodriguez said. “But I get paid to tell the truth and if you guys ask me a question, I’m gonna tell you exactly as I see it and not sugarcoat it because I want my number retired. And if it’s not retired, then so be it.”
The weird thing about that position is Rodriguez doesn't really seem overly critical of the Yankees when he is talking about them. Certainly not to the point where it would make a franchise that retires numbers like it has an endless supply of them refuse to retire his.
Especially given everything he contributed to the team as a player.
The biggest reason for the Yankees refusing to retire his number is probably the same thing that is keeping him out of the Hall of Fame -- his connection to the steroid era in Major League Baseball and the fact he served a year-long suspension for it during his time with the Yankees.
That, more than anything, is what is keeping him from joining the other Yankees legends who have had their numbers retired. Not some mild and tame criticism of Brian Cashman's latest move.
Rodriguez spent the majority of his Major League career with the Yankees, hitting 351 of his 696 career home runs in pinstripes, while also winning two MVPs and a World Series in 2009 with the team. That sort of resume would absolutely earn him -- or any player -- the honor he so desires. But again, that whole steroids thing seems to be something the Yankees -- and the bulk of Hall of Fame voters -- are not willing to overlook.
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