Report: Yankees will have paid A-Rod $317 million when deal ends in 2017
When the New York Yankees stop paying designated hitter Alex Rodriguez when his contract is up, the team will have paid him more than $317 million, according to an analysis of Rodriguez's contract conducted by the Associated Press.
And that doesn't include the more than $132 million in luxury tax penalties the team has paid through this season.
Rodriguez's contract with the Yankees is a monthly payment, with the contract officially coming off the books on Dec. 31, 2017. When New York traded for Rodriguez in February 2004, he was in the middle of a 10-year, $252 million deal he signed with the Texas Rangers in December 2000.
Although the Yankees will not be responsible for his checks after 2017, he will still be getting paid by the Rangers. At the time he was traded, he was to receive $36 million in deferred money from that record deal. That was converted to an assignment bonus, which has racked up two percent in interest every year. He will continue to get paid by the Rangers until June 15, 2025.
Rodriguez opted out of the $252 million deal in 2007, signing another record contract worth $275 million, over 10 years with the Yankees.
Overall, the Yankees will have shelled out $317,368,852 to Rodriguez in his 12 seasons. During his tenure with the team, Rodriguez is batting .284 with 351 homers and 1,094 RBIs, winning two of his three AL MVP awards while in New York, and helping the Yankees win the World Series title in 2009.
"One individual is not responsible for winning only one world championship, because that's part of the team effort," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He had a big piece of that success and in most cases more so than most."
The 41-year-old Rodriguez, who has made about $448 million in his playing career, will play his final game with the team on Friday.
- Scooby Axson
