A-Rod: 'We'll see what happens' after next season

Several hours after announcing his intention to retire following the 2017 campaign, New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez said that an official decision won't actually be made until after next season.

"I'm thinking in terms of my contract, which ends in 2017," Rodriguez told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News in a text message Wednesday. "After that, we’ll see what happens. I've got two years and more than 300 games to play."

Rodriguez, who turns 41 this summer, told ESPN's Andrew Marchand earlier in the day that he "won't play after next year," because he's decided to "go home and be dad."

"It's been a lot of fun," Rodriguez told ESPN. "It has been very challenging at times, but it has been an incredible learning experience. I would say that the two years that I've probably enjoyed the most were my first when I was 19 and won the batting title with (Ken) Griffey and last year. The contrast of those two, at 40 and 18 or 19. It is hard to believe."

Shortly before Rodriguez's comments to the Daily News, his publicist, Ron Berkowitz, issued a brief statement to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, saying: "Nothing is ever official until you officially retire. He has two years left on his current deal and plans to play it out, and then the contract will be done."

When asked whether Rodriguez could continue playing past 2017 if he performs well, Berkowitz said, "He could, yes."

ALL-TIME HOME RUNS

A-Rod remains under contract with the Yankees through 2017 at annual salaries of $21 million. He can earn $6 million - and up to a total of $24 million - in milestone marketing bonuses if he passes Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and ties or breaks Barry Bonds' all-time record of 762 homers.

The three-time MVP made a triumphant return to baseball last year after serving a season-long PED suspension, hitting .250/.356/.486 with 33 homers and 86 RBIs in 151 games.