A-Rod officially released by New York Yankees

The New York Yankees unconditionally released Alex Rodriguez on Saturday, ending his 12 years with the team and possibly a major league career after 22 seasons.

Rodriguez had a memorable finale with the Yankees on Friday night, getting an RBI double in his first at-bat and walking off the field as a third baseman to a standing ovation and embraces from his teammates during the 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

"I've given these fans a lot of headaches over the years and I've disappointed a lot of people," Rodriguez told the sellout crowd of 46,459 over the public-address system. "But like I've always said, you don't have to be defined by your mistakes. How you come back matters, too, and that's what New York's all about."

The 41-year-old designated hitter batted .200 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 65 games this season. He has 696 home runs, fourth on the career list behind Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

The 14-time All-Star and three-time American League MVP has a .295 career batting average with 3,115 hits and his 2,086 RBIs are second to Aaron's 2,297.

A-Rod's career has been stained by the use of performance-enhancing substances. He missed the entire 2014 season after his acceptance of a 162-game suspension.

The Yankees are still responsible for $27,103,825 remaining on his $275 million, 10-year contract. He is owed $7,103,825 of his $20 million salary for the final 65 days of this season and $20 million next year.

With his release, Rodriguez will sign a contract with the Yankees to serve as a special advisor and instructor with the club through Dec. 31, 2017.

"With all that I've been through, and for them to show up on a night like tonight and show me that type of love is something that I'll never forget. It was overwhelming," Rodriguez said Friday night during a news conference.

The Yankees also called up top outfield prospect Aaron Judge -- making his major league debut on Saturday afternoon against the Rays -- from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said Judge will be the team's everyday right fielder. He will hit eighth against the Rays.

Judge, 24, was hitting .270 with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs in 93 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Infielder/outfielder prospect Tyler Austin also was called up from Triple-A and will make his big-league debut Saturday. He will hit seventh and play first base.

Austin was hitting .323 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 56 games for the Triple-A club.

The Yankees also optioned right-hander Ben Heller to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and transferred right-hander Conor Mullee to the 60-day disabled list.