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Despite the enormous pressure carried by the contract, Rodriguez has continued to produce, and has been even better than before. He hit 52 home runs in 2001, and followed that up with a major league best 57 home runs in 2002, the most ever for a shortstop. He put a bookend on that year by winning his first [[Gold Glove]]. Unfortunately, the Rangers have not made any improvements in the two years he's played there, finishing last both times, and it likely cost him the MVP award in 2002, as he finished second to fellow shortstop [[Miguel Tejada]] despite Tejada having lesser numbers, but played for a championship-caliber team. The Mariners didn't miss him; they won 116 games in their first year without him.
2003 was another productive years for A-Rod. He hit .298 with 47 home runs, won his second consecutive [[Gold_Glove|Gold Glove Award]] and was named the league's MVP, despite the Rangers remaining mired in last place tem On [[February 15]], [[2004]], after a period in which he had been courted by the [[Boston Red Sox]] and named as the Rangers' captain, Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees for second baseman [[Alfonso Soriano]] and a player to be named later. In the trade, the Rangers will have to pay US$67 million of the US$179 million left on Rodriguez's contract. Rodriguez will move to third base, replacing injured Yankee third baseman [[Aaron Boone]] and allowing [[Derek Jeter]] to continue at shortstop.
In addition to moving from shortstop to third, Rodriguez has to make another change on the Yankees. He had worn uniform number 3, but on the Yankees that number is forever associated with [[Babe Ruth]]. There was some speculation as to what his number would be, but in spring training he showed up with uniform number 13, answering the question.
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