On Sunday, after an emotional Alex Rodriguez announced he'll play his final game with the New York Yankees five days from now, general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that, despite ostensibly getting ready to transition into an advisory role with the club, the 41-year-old is free to sign with another team should he wish to continue his playing career.
At this point, it's hard to imagine Rodriguez putting on an MLB uniform again after Friday, but, given that he's been showing up in box scores and highlight videos for more than two decades, it's just as hard to imagine him not playing baseball anymore, either.
So, with that in mind, let's take a look at three teams that could - repeat: COULD - sign Rodriguez once he's released by the Yankees.
Miami Marlins
Though Miami would earn a postseason spot if the season ended today, they're still drawing fewer fans per game than all but three teams, so it's not hard to imagine the Marlins, hungry for gate revenues, bringing their city's prodigal son home in 2017 to finish his quest for 700 home runs. Rodriguez, who moved to Miami with his family at age four and currently resides in nearby Coral Gables, has been dreadful all season, but the Marlins have shown putting faith in aging, unproductive legends can sometimes pay off. In January, after all, the Marlins re-signed Ichiro Suzuki as he was coming off a season in which he was the fifth-worst hitter in the majors (min. 400 plate appearances), and the 42-year-old has repaid the club's confidence in him by hitting .318/.389/.373 through 94 games in 2016.
Tampa Bay Rays
Speaking of financially moribund Florida franchises that could use some more butts in the seats, the Rays definitely have something to gain from signing Rodriguez, who would provide the club a third player to feature on their promotional materials and probably generate a nice little boost in merchandise revenue, too. Seriously, though, considering the financial constraints the Rays are playing with, Rodriguez could be worth a shot, given that the Yankees are responsible for paying the $27 million or so left on his contract (less the pro-rated major-league minimum, of course, if he signs elsewhere). This is a no-risk deal for Tampa Bay, and Rodriguez is only a year removed from a very productive campaign, having managed an .842 OPS (130 OPS+) with 33 homers and 22 doubles in 151 games in 2015. Yes, Rodriguez's hard contact rate and batted-ball exit velocity have dropped off since then, but it's not like Corey Dickerson has done anything in 2016 (93 wRC+) to keep his job as Tampa Bay's designated hitter next year.
Texas Rangers
Rodriguez's tenure in Texas was downright magical, so it's possible general manager Jon Daniels - who joined the Rangers in 2002, a year after Rodriguez landed what was then the biggest contract in sports history - is open to the possibility of a reunion. (Magical may be understatement, frankly: Rodriguez posted a 1.011 OPS (155 OPS+) and averaged 52 homers and 15 stolen bases per year from 2001 through 2003, missing just one game over that three-year span.) With Mitch Moreland and Carlos Beltran set to hit free agency after 2016, and Prince Fielder making his way back from neck surgery, the Rangers may have an opening at DH next year, too, and Rodriguez has always raked in Texas, hitting .329/.413/.641 in 309 career games at Globe Life Park (formerly the Ballpark in Arlington and Ameriquest Field).
