It's been a rough year for New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. From a poor performance in the playoffs last season, to major hip surgery and steroid allegations, things haven't been easy as he continues his rehab stint in the minor leagues. Despite everything, Rodriguez is determined to remain a Yankee and live up to his massive contract, USA Today Sports reports.
"I know people think I'm nuts," Rodriguez told USA Today Sports.
"I know most people wouldn't want the confrontation. Most people would say, 'Get me out of here. Trade me. Do anything.'
"But I'm the (expletive) crazy man who goes, 'I want to compete. I want to stay in New York. I refuse to quit.' Maybe it's stupidity, I don't know, but I'm wired to compete and give my best. I have a responsibility to be ready to play as soon as I can."
New York owes Rodriguez $114 million over the next five years. The front office has questioned his ability to live up to the contract, and some critics don't think the 37-year-old can ever return to form after undergoing an operation on a gaping hole found in his left hip.
"You hear all the doubters and that just fuels me," Rodriguez said. "They don't know me. I'm not giving up. I never will. I'm not wired that way.
"This is the hardest fight I've ever had. There have been days, like, 'Holy (expletive), how am I going to get through this day?' But you keep getting after it, keep pushing."
Throw in the steroid allegations with Biogenesis, which Rodriguez denies, and some would just call it quits and walk away. But Rodriguez insists that's not going to happen.
"The easy thing would be to give up," he said. "But I didn't get to where I am by taking the (expletive) way out. I refuse to start now. There's a lot of fight left in me."
Rodriguez expects to return to the Yankees on July 22, when the club faces the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.