Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez formed one of the most formidable double-play duos in baseball history. When Jeter and A-Rod teamed up, it led the Yankees to numerous playoff appearances and a championship in 2009. Notably, the feud between Jeter and A-Rod is no secret to any baseball fan. And despite that A-Rod was kind enough to compromise his position with Jeter when he joined the Pinstripes in 2004.

There have been a lot of ups and downs throughout the duration of their relationship, but they were a force to be reckoned with on the field!

June 2004: Alex Rodriguez gets traded to the Yankees 

Rodriguez had the position of shortstop for as long as he could remember, but the Yankees already had their star shortstop in Derek Jeter. So Rodriguez agreed to switch positions and move to third base after getting a call from the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

This is what he had to say, “To me it was an easy decision right, because when George Steinbrenner called me to say, ‘do you wanna be a Yankee?’, he was clear – ‘I have a four-time world championship shortstop and he’s the captain and he’s not moving’, and I said boss that’s the only way I would have it.” 

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A-Rod continued, “He said, ‘if you wanna come play third base, game on, I’m gonna bring you to be a Yankee’ and that was the agreement from day 1.” 

What did Derek Jeter say? 

According to the general manager, Brian Cashman, Jeter’s reaction to A-Rod’s move to the Yankees as a third base? “Very Cool” In the same interview, Rodriguez added, “Jeter and I, we never had an issue around that and that was the agreement. And when you make an agreement, that’s the deal”

He even jeopardized his own role in the Yankees if Jeter’s position was offered to him instead. “As a matter of fact, I think I told Joe Torre once if you put me a ‘short’ I’ll ask for a trade,” A-Rod added.

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Rodriguez further narrated his thoughts, “Jeter was an incredible shortstop, someone who was a very close friend and someone that I admired”.

Jeter and Rodriguez played alongside each other in the field as a shortstop and a third baseman and they were incredible.