Big Papi is doing his "Farewell YEAR" (and a helluva year it has been, too). He's taking the accolades, feeling the love, digging the final round.

Why stand up on Sunday and say "I'm leaving....NOW!!!!" -- makes no damn sense....

He's taking up a roster spot, and the team wants to bring up younger players.

Without this "Here's your hat, what's your hurry, there's the door" routine? He's not going to get much of a send-off, is he?

It sounds to me like he was given a big smile and a boot up his ass; Be Gone, A-Hole...err, I mean A-Rod--that is why I wondered about drugs. After all, if he's off the books, no need to test any weewee for suspicious stuff!

Of course, maybe they thought they'd hold his feet to the fire, announce quickly, and that way he couldn't change his mind and fight to try and finish out his contract.

The Boston crowds used to chant (melodically for them, too) Ayyyyyyyy Hoooole in perfect unison with great verve, especially during the BoSox Johnny Damon years (IIRC, he and four other guys stood on the top step of the dugout with AHOLE spelled out in masking tape on the back of their warm up jackets, to give the crowd a "read along" for when Mr. Rodriguez came up to bat). It had to be awkward when Damon later ended up at the Yankees franchise!

Let him go and move forward.

But wow, what a fine fare-thee-well after all those years!

The headline may as well read: Yankees Advise A-Rod to Not Let Door Hit Him...!

additional scrutiny. For whatever reason some cheating scumbags get off easier in the public eye than others. There's little doubt in my mind that Ortiz is still cheating as he lacked the moral fiber and integrity to not cheat in the first place.

He's just as much of a fraud as Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and all the rest who can't resist the urge to cheat.

He had a contract that the Yankees had to pay, so they kept him around in hopes he could produce this year. He didn't

Word is he's still a valuable asset in the clubhouse with younger players, and as a cheerleader for the team. He'll do OK as a batting coach. He does know how to hit, he just can't do it anymore as his legs and hips are shot.

Yankee rebuild is underway and it's about time.

It did my heart good to hear a Yankee fan call Pay-Rod an Asshat!
The Seattle Mariners retired Ken Griffeys Jersey this very weekend.
Cheering Griffey fans filled the stadium and gave him a very warm ovation.
Griffey helped turn Seattle into a major baseball town and left here to be near his family.
Most of the fans understood & wished him well because he is the real deal & a very class act.
When Pay-Rod left he told the fans it wasn't about the money. It was.
It rained boo's and fake A-Rod dollars everytime he returned as a Yankee.
Hope taking Rhoids was worth the scorn Alex....good riddance Cheater!!

Everyone hates him.