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A-Rod's full-time deal with Fox Sports includes a great new role

Kevin Kaduk

For those of you who loved watching Alex Rodriguez talk baseball on Fox Sports the last two postseasons, here’s some great news: A-Rod and the network just came to terms on a multi-year deal that will have him analyzing the sport on a full-time basis in 2017 and beyond.

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But it gets better. In addition to appearing in studio, A-Rod will also work in the booth as an analyst during select Saturday games. So instead of having to wait until after the game to hear Rodriguez’s mind break down a situation, we’ll be privy to what’s going on in his head as an inning unfolds.

If it’s anything like that viral video that had A-Rod talking hitting with Frank Thomas and Pete Rose last fall, it’s going to be great.

“I’m excited to continue working with the Fox Sports family,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “It’ll be great to get back on set with the guys for the regular season and postseason, especially the All-Star Game in my hometown of Miami.”

The news of the deal would seemingly put an end to any talk the 41-year-old Rodriguez would come out of retirement, though there is no word on if the contract contains an out clause if he gets an itch to get back into the batter’s box with an interested team. (Rodriguez said at Yankees camp last month that he was happy in retirement working as a broadcaster and hitting instructor and had no plans to come back as a player.)

(AP)
(AP)

The deal also continues one of the unlikeliest redemptions in sports. Reviled by much of the baseball public during his career for any number of reasons, Rodriguez the broadcaster has won over a lot of fans with his approach on set. Not only does he bring in a wealth of personal experience having played the game at a Hall of Fame level, but his research and preparation is said to be dogged.

That was apparent when Big League Stew’s own Mike Oz spent a night on set with A-Rod last October.

As A-Rod continues to mature into his new profession, it’ll be interesting to see how the public’s perception evolves. Will familiarity breed contempt and destroy the novelty? Or will his skill at breaking down a complicated game for the layman continue to convert fans and maybe even open a path to Cooperstown that once seemed hopelessly blocked?

Whatever happens, it’ll happen on the set and in the booth as we’re all able to watch. That’s a big win for Fox and baseball, which has finally created must-see sports television in the mold of Charles Barkley and the “Inside the NBA” crew.

It’s also great news for anyone who can put aside A-Rod’s considerable baggage to enjoy learning from one of the best to ever play the game.

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