Alex Rodriguez: 'It's time for me to go home and be a dad'

Alex Rodriguez is planning to retire at the end of the 2017 season after playing out his contract with the New York Yankees.

The designated hitter, who is set to be paid $21 million each of the next two seasons in the final two years of his 10-year, $275-million contract, told ESPN of his plans on Wednesday.

"I won't play after next year," Rodriguez said. "I've really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be dad."

A-Rod, who enters 2016 with 687 home runs, will be ending a legendary and controversy-filled career.

Rodriguez, who turns 41 on July 27, was once scorned and despised by many throughout baseball after he fought Major League Baseball before accepting the 162-game suspension in 2014 for performance-enhancing drugs usage.

Rodriguez also admitted to using PEDs from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Rangers when steroids were not banned by MLB during those years. The 2013 Biogenesis scandal revealed A-Rod's continued PED use.

The slugger returned from his season-long suspension last year and hit 33 home runs with 86 RBIs in 151 games. Last June, he homered for his 3,000th career hit, becoming the 29th major league player to reach the milestone.

Rodriguez, who also played for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, currently sits in fourth place on the career home run list -- 27 behind third-place Babe Ruth's 714. He likely will not threaten Hank Aaron, who remains No. 2 at 755 home runs, and the all-time home run record of 762 held by Barry Bonds.

Rodriguez is a three-time American League MVP (2003, 2005, 2007) and a 14-time All-Star.