Alex Rodriguez to Be Released by Yankees, Serve as Instructor and Adviser

Alex Rodriguez is set to end his playing career this week, with the New York Yankees announcing Sunday he will play his final game Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The club will then release Rodriguez, and he will serve as a special adviser and instructor with the team through Dec. 31, 2017.

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal provided the Yankees' announcement:

"

Here's the full announcement from the Yankees. pic.twitter.com/yJWyGcrNAc

— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) August 7, 2016"

The decision to release Rodriguez doesn't come as a huge surprise. The Yankees indicated they were in rebuilding mode when they traded relief pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, starting pitcher Ivan Nova and slugger Carlos Beltran before the non-waiver trade deadline, per Billy Witz of the New York Times.

Ostensibly, the Yankees will have more playing time for a number of exciting young prospects.

Rodriguez has struggled this season after launching 33 home runs last year. He's hitting .204 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, including just .196 against right-handed pitchers. He was given only 37 at-bats in July and hit .135 with a homer and two RBI.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.