13 things A-Rod needs to do before he retires

On Wednesday, Alex Rodriguez told ESPN he plans to retire when his current contract with the New York Yankees expires after the 2017 season. Hours later, in typical A-Rod fashion, he stole more headlines by suggesting he hasn't yet made a final decision.

Whether A-Rod, the three-time MVP and one of the greatest and most controversial players of all time, plays his final game next season or the one after, here are 13 things in honor of his lucky jersey number that he needs to do before he retires.

1. Play shortstop again

Even before he shifted to his right to accommodate Derek Jeter, A-Rod’s ox-like physique would have never allowed for a full career at shortstop. The early years were special, though, and we’d love for that visual just one last time - even if it's just for one play.

2. Hit a homer in Miami

A-Rod’s hit 687 career homers, yet none of them have been against or in his hometown of Miami. The Yankees don't visit the Marlins this season - Rodriguez flied out in his lone at-bat there last season as a pinch hitter - which leaves either the World Series, the 2017 season, or perhaps the following year (more on that below) for A-Rod to officially have his Miami moment.

3. Win a post-Jeter World Series

A-Rod’s infamous Esquire interview drove a stake in the middle of his high-profile friendship with Jeter, and the ironic part is, given Rodriguez’s comments, he's been the one playing in the shadow of The Captain ever since. On the surface, A-Rod would probably say he's grateful to have won a championship with his ex-best friend, but deep down he must wonder whether he could have done it on his own.

4. Write a Players' Tribune essay

Perhaps his own World Series ring would be enough to convince Jeter to give A-Rod his Players’ Tribune platform to write the mea culpa we’ve all been waiting for.

5. Playoff game in Texas

And we thought Texas-Toronto was intense. Would there be a more fitting ending to his career than if A-Rod found himself in Arlington for a playoff series with the club that gave him the first $200-million contract in sports? Rodriguez’s Texas career was brief, complicated, and controversial, and to see him return for a playoff game - something he never accomplished during his three seasons there - is a moment 12 years in the making.

6. Home run No. 715

The only player A-Rod can reasonably catch on the home run list at this point is Babe Ruth, and he only needs 28 homers to do it. Passing Ruth - especially at Yankee Stadium - would be as polarizing a moment as we've seen in A-Rod’s career, and it remains unclear how New York fans would handle it. And for that very reason, it's a must-see moment to pine for over the next two seasons.

7. More TV analyst gigs

There's a scenario in which these next two seasons don't play out well for the soon-to-be 41-year-old. If injuries and diminished production slow A-Rod’s on-field exploits, we’d love for him to make more studio appearances after his surprisingly strong work with FOX last October.

8. Play 3,000th game

Only eight players have ever suited up for 3,000 games, and if A-Rod fulfills his goal of at least 300 more games, he’ll be the ninth. Perhaps more unbelievably, given the controversies, injuries, and suspension, Rodriguez’s 3,002nd game would pass the Iron Man himself, A-Rod idol Cal Ripken, on the all-time leaderboard.

9. Crack top 10 hits list

Speaking of milestones, there are still plenty of legends A-Rod can pass on the hits list - including Ripken, Tony Gwynn, and George Brett - but the more compelling number is 249. That would get Rodriguez into the top 10, and join Aaron as the only players in history to reach the top 10 in hits, and top five in homers.

10. Return to the All-Star Game

For someone with 14 All-Star appearances, it's a bit surprising he hasn't been to the Midsummer Classic since 2011. If A-Rod never gets that final appearance at shortstop, perhaps he and Carlos Correa can hook up for this generation’s Ripken moment, and give Rodriguez his appropriate All-Star send-off.

11. Hit another homer off Colon

A-Rod’s hit eight home runs off four pitchers in his career, and fellow elder statesman Bartolo Colon is the only one still playing. It might not be the most buzzed-about milestone, but making Colon his most victimized pitcher is a wrinkle worth adding to both of their careers.

12. Break Bonds' record as a Marlin

We can dream, can't we? There's a not-so-crazy scenario in which A-Rod finishes out his Yankees contract and returns home to complete the full circle of his career in the state where he became a high school superstar. As if that weren't enough, how about playing under the tutelage of Marlins hitting coach and all-time home run champ Barry Bonds (who trained A-Rod prior to last season) as he chases the record he's long coveted.

13. Sign one-day deal with Mariners

Whether A-Rod plays his last game in New York, Miami, or somewhere else, the Seattle chapter of his career has always felt incomplete. It was with the Mariners where A-Rod blossomed into the best player in baseball after getting drafted first overall, winning Rookie of the Year, and capturing his only batting title. Despite what dark shadows may have lurked, A-Rod’s Mariners career has remained his least controversial, and signing a one-day contract to retire in Seattle might give him and the club the closure they both need.