Alex Rodriguez to Play his Final Game This Friday

After 22 seasons of Major League baseball, Alex Rodrigues announced Sunday that this Friday's game at Yankee Stadium will be his last.

MLB.com reports that the three time American League MVP will stay with the Yankees as an advisor for the team's farm system till December 31, 2017.

Reports say AROD is still owned $27 million through next season.

Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement:

After spending several days discussing this plan with Alex, I am pleased that he will remain a part of our organization moving forward and transition into a role in which I know he can flourish. We have an exciting group of talented young players at every level of our system. Our job as an organization is to utilize every resource possible to allow them to reach their potential, and I expect Alex to directly contribute to their growth and success.

The 41-year old Rodriguez will retire fourth on the MLB's leading all-time home run list with 696. He trails only Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds.

He is also third in Major League history with 2,084 RBIs. The Rodriguez has played in 2,781 games, as well as collecting 10 Silver Slugger Awards, two Gold Glove Awards and an AL batting title in 1996, when he hit .358.

He also helped lead the Yankees to a World Series win in 2009.

The move doesn't come as too big of a surprise as AROD's playing time with the Yankees has diminished more and more through the season. Some had speculated the organization would release him.

Rodriguez had initially said he would have liked to stay with the Yankees through 2017.

Alex's first season with the Yankees was in 2004. Over twelve seasons in the Bronx, he played in 1506 games, hit for .284, had 1579 hits, 351 home runs, and 1094 RBIs.