"Derek Jeter felt like, 'I'm glad Alex Rodriguez isn't here'": When MLB insider gave verdict on A-Rod not attending teammate's jersey retirement

Sports television personality Max Kellerman stated that Derek Jeter must have been quite pleased that Alex Rodriguez was not present for the ceremony when the New York Yankees retired his iconic no. 2 jersey in 2017. Kellerman was a presenter for ESPN and offered his thoughts during the First Take show to his co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim.

"Whatever kind of distraction A-Rod felt he may have created, whether or not he felt welcomed by Jeter, or maybe Jeter felt like, "I'm glad that guy isn't here." It says something about you. People admire the character of someone who shows up, and that's been the issue for A-Rod, really," he said.

Former New York Yankees infielders Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were known to share a deep bond of friendship during the early years of their careers when they were both playing for different teams. However, their relationship had turned quite frosty by the time Rodriguez arrived at the Bronx to join Jeter, and the pair remained awkward teammates during their time together with the Yankees.

Jeter played his final season with the Yankees in 2014, but Rodriguez was not part of the clubhouse that year as he was serving a suspension from the MLB for PED use. The 14-time All-Star returned to the team the following year and played two more seasons before calling time on his career in 2016.

Therefore, the situation between the two Yankees superstars had reached a new low when Rodriguez was absent at Jeter's jersey retirement ceremony in 2017.

Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have a working relationship once again

Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are part of the postseason broadcast on FOX with Red Sox icon David Ortiz (Image Soucre: Imagn)

The friendship between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter has seen several ups and downs over the decades. The pair maintained a cordial relationship in public during their decade together as teammates for the New York Yankees, but it was quite uneasy behind the scenes.

"I think early on I was in that circle of trust," Rodriguez said in The Captain, a seven-part docuseries focusing on Jeter. "I think that changed when I said some things he didn't like, and that, for him, broke the trust, and I think from that moment on it was never quite the same ever again."

Nevertheless, A-Rod and Jeter seem to have patched their relationship, at least to the extent where both are able to work together again. The pair are now part of the annual postseason coverage on FOX Sports, along with former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.