BOSTON _ While Alex Rodriguez prepares for his last game as a Yankee Friday night, a lingering question won't go away:
Will it be his final game in the big leagues?
Rodriguez, 41, was in the starting lineup as the DH Thursday night at Fenway Park and will start again Friday night against the Rays.
After that, he will be unconditionally released, meaning he can sign with another team. And one team close to A-Rod's heart, his hometown Miami Marlins, has had some preliminary talks about that possibility, according to two sources familiar with the team's thinking, confirming an MLB Network report earlier in the day.
There is no indication yet that the Marlins, in the thick of the National League wild-card race, plan to make a play for him.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria's affinity for A-Rod is well known throughout the industry.
Rodriguez didn't give many hints which way he's leaning regarding his on-field future, or even if he desires one, past Friday.
"I'm focusing on this is it," A-Rod said of Friday. "I'm not looking beyond that. I value the pinstripes, I value this organization. To me, this is it."
Rodriguez, who after his release is supposed to to sign a contract as an adviser and instructor who reports directly to Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, said he would feel compelled to run any offers past the owner.
"That's a hypothetical, (but) anything that I do, I would clear with Hal first," he said. "But I'm not getting there. That's how I would handle it, though."
As he's done throughout what has been an at-times-bizarre week, Rodriguez said he remains confident in his ability to produce.
"Look, I feel like I can do it, I've been very consistent, I can play," he said. "I can play baseball. This year's been a struggle, I've struggled with my swing, but I've felt all along that I've worked really hard on my mechanics. I felt last night was close off a tough pitcher."
Joe Girardi sent A-Rod up to pinch hit against right-hander Matt Barnes in the seventh inning Wednesday night and he flied to right, deep enough to advance the runner on second.
Was he trying to hit a home run?
"I'm not going to lie," Rodriguez said. "I was going for it."
In Thursday night's game, Rodriguez hit a soft liner to second, popped to second and struck out in his first three at-bats. He batted with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth against Brad Ziegler and hit a dribbler for an RBI groundout that gave the Yankees a 4-2 lead.
He insisted that walking away still believing he has something left is something he can live with.
"I know I can play baseball, but there's nothing wrong with walking away with a little bit in the tank," A-Rod said. "I feel like a swing like (Wednesday) night, I can walk away and be like, 'That's pretty good. I still have a little bit left.' And there's nothing wrong with that."
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