Without a sliver of doubt, Alex Rodriguez is one of the most famous baseball personalities in the world. He has been a pivotal force for the New York Yankees and holds the eighth spot in franchise history for fWAR, ranks sixth in home runs, and played an important role in the 2009 championship team. But while his stellar on-field game has put him on a pedestal, his off-the-field demeanors have played havoc with this reputation, mostly his PED fiasco. So much so that his standings with the team he played for more than a decade stands in a rocky spot. 

Alex Rodriguez is yet to get into the Hall of Fame and his number, which he so wants the Yanks to retire, is still in use by Mookie Betts. But it’s not only his relationship with the team that has been topsy-turvy, even his dynamics with his once closest friend Derek Jeter have been rocky. Unsolicited comments and a series of incidents strained their bond. Though things seem to be on the mend, Jeter still appears to harbor some reservations. Recently, when asked about A-Rod’s place in Monument Park, Jeter took a rather neutral stance, but that in itself spoke volumes.

Old friends, new tension – Derek Jeter remains tight-lipped!

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were present for the Old-Timers event and for the first time in a long time, a glimpse of that old friendship did reflect off them. Jeter even cracked a joke about A-Rod rocking his Yankee jersey non-stop at home when the reporters asked him how it felt to wear it after such a long time. But while that showed the playful side, for the more serious topics, Derek Jeter didn’t quite stand by his old friend. 

The questions about Alex Rodriguez and his name in the monument park were posed. And Alex responded by saying that he would love to be in there, but that’s not his decision to make. He noted, “I would love to be in, but obviously that’s not my decision. But I honor everything about the New York Yankees, and it would be an honor.” 

Derek Jeter, on being asked about whether his former teammate belongs with him in Monument Park, was rather tight-lipped. As per NY Times, Jeter remarked, “I don’t make those decisions, man. That’s the best way to put it. I know people are looking for headlines. I think you got (Brian) Cashman here somewhere. I don’t even know if Cash makes that decision. I would call up Hal (Steinbrenner) and see what he has to say. Don’t get me in the middle of it. That’s a Hal question.”

But his neutral stance is no surprise because while he and Alex Rodriguez’s friendship goes way back to their college days, their relationship changed over the years. It happened because of various things, but one notable incident was when Rodriguez made an unsolicited comment saying, Derek Jeter, “never had to lead” in his baseball career in one of his interviews. And seems like this palpable energy between Jeter and A-Rod is something that some of the other colleagues and players share too!

Yankees icons silent on A-Rod’s Monument Park induction

Who wouldn’t want to be honored for their efforts and after how much Alex Rodriguez has done for baseball and the team, not getting acknowledged must hurt? There’s no question he deserves it, but seems like his off-the-diamond fiasco might be too much to ignore. Because not just Derek Jeter, but even some of the others like CC Sabathia and Jorge Posada took the same neutral approach as Jeter. 

According to Sabathia and Posada, it’s a decision that Steinbrenner needs to make. Sabathia said, “That’s not up for me.” Although he did acknowledge A-Rod saying, “I do think he probably should have won the (2009) ALCS MVP, or we should have shared it because in ’09 if he doesn’t hit some of those big homers or have some of those big at-bats, we definitely don’t win.” Posada mentioned, “I can’t answer that. I feel like his numbers speak for himself. So we’ll see. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I don’t know. That’s up to management.”

Their statements, although neutral, are quite telling because three of the most beloved members in Yankee history are not advocates of Rodriguez getting that place at Monument Park. However, there are some like David Cone, who have extended their support and expressed their desire for the team to honor Alex Rodriguez the way that’s right. Considering the team’s history with A-Rod, it seems doubtful he’ll get the highest honor from the franchise. But ultimately, the decision remains in Hal Steinbrenner’s court.

Can he look past these previous transgressions? What do you think? Let us know!