Yankees Alex Rodriguez’s Hall of Fame career, three MVP awards, 696 home runs, and a $275 million contract that changed the way baseball works have changed the lives of his two daughters in ways they never expected. In the HBO documentary miniseries “Alex vs. ARod,” Natasha, 20, and Ella, 17, talk about how hard it is to grow up as the kids of one of baseball’s most famous players, something that elite athletic families rarely talk about.

A lot of attention marked Rodriguez’s 22-season MLB career, which began with the Seattle Mariners and ended with the New York Yankees. Rodriguez moved smoothly from baseball to broadcast journalism after he retired in 2016. He became a baseball analyst for FOX Sports, which kept him in the public eye. Ella, in particular, has had a hard time with the weight of her father’s always-present fame.

“I don’t like calling myself ‘A-Rod’s daughter’,” the 17-year-old admitted in episode 2 of the three-part HBO documentary. “I actually hate that. Growing up people have always been like, ‘Your dad is A-Rod? A-Rod’s going to be here?'”

Looking at Rodriguez’s career accomplishments, 10 Silver Slugger awards over seasons, no wonder things were overwhelming for the family. Ella’s refusal to accept her assigned identity comes from years of being treated like a label instead of a person.

“Then I just hear that and I’m like, ‘Guys, he has a name—it’s Alex. He’s a real human’,” she emphasized. “I think I’m very ambitious because of him,” Ella admitted. “When he really sets his mind, there is no telling him otherwise.” Rodriguez was known for never giving up.

He set records by getting 3,115 hits and 2,086 RBIs over nearly 20 years in professional baseball.

Meanwhile, Natasha, enrolled at the University of Michigan, articulates a unique relationship with this inheritance.

“My dad and I are kind of like twin flames in work ethic, in passion, in drive and ambition,” she shared. She acknowledged that Rodriguez’s ego, what she calls an ego “that thrives off achievements and all the things you can list that you do,” is inseparable from the ambition that drives success.

Even with a performance-enhancing drug scandal in 2014 that led to a 162-game suspension, A-Rod had been statistically superior.

Rodriguez even opened up about the emotional reasons behind his parenting style, the personal wounds that shaped how he became a father. “I always wanted to provide what my father couldn’t do for our family, a safe place,” he stated. “It has been the most rewarding part of my life watching them grow up and being a part of their life, by far.”

Now, with the Yankee legend’s recent HBO docu-series around, we cannot overlook how the team’s offseason is shaping up.

Yankees eye Tucker as free agency heats up

Kyle Tucker is the talk of the free agent world, and the New York Yankees are definitely paying attention. The Cubs outfielder isn’t just good; he’s one of the best.

He hit .266 with 22 home runs and an .841 OPS in 136 games last season. He has been named an All-Star for the fourth year in a row, marking his consistency.

This is where things get interesting.

Cody Bellinger had a good year with the Yankees in 2025, which changes things. MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan points out, “There are also reasons to believe that the Yankees won’t be at the forefront of the Tucker sweepstakes, especially when Bellinger is out there as a lower-cost alternative who offers more flexibility on defense.” While Tucker is projected to get a 12-year, north of $400 million deal, Bellinger stands at a 7-year, $182M deal, who is already a Yankee Stadium fit.

Harrigan also noted, “While Tucker is certainly an excellent hitter, it’s fair to wonder whether the Yankees would want to invest that heavily at a non-premium position for a player who isn’t quite a superstar.”

The Yankees haven’t ruled out making a big move for Tucker. Bellinger is a good choice for them because he can play a lot of different positions and is cheap, but losing Juan Soto still hurts. That disappointment might make them want to get another big name to shut up the critics.

The Yankees are at a crossroads as they head into 2026. Tucker is still on their radar, but the final decision will be based on how much star power they have and how much money they can afford to spend. This is a classic Yankee problem.