Alex Rodriguez has finally ceased his exhausting fight to play for the New York Yankees in the 2014 season. He dropped his lawsuits against Major League Baseball, the players union and Commissioner Bud Selig Feb. 7.

This marks the end of his battle to overturn the 211-game suspension that originated from the league’s Biogenesis investigation. The hefty suspension came as a result of Rodriguez’s use and possession of testosterone, human growth hormone and other prohibited substances over multiple years and his attempt to cover up his violations of baseball's drug policy by obstructing an MLB investigation. Rodriguez filed suit last month after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz reduced his suspension to one full regular season plus the 2014 playoffs.

Although no official reasons have been released, there isn’t much need for any. It’s easy to assume that Rodriguez realized the facts of the case, which didn’t look too favorable for him. He was up against an unwavering opponent and it was unlikely that a court would have overturned the suspension or that the case would’ve gotten through soon enough to prevent the suspension from starting as planned.

It’s about time Rodriguez raised the white flag. He was doomed to fail from the start. As much as he and his lawyers vowed to fight until the end and demanded that he be out on that field at the start of spring training this year, they’ve finally backed down with a voluntary notice of dismissal.

ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack reacted to the news saying that Rodriguez has finally gotten tired of “throwing money down a rat hole.” The cost includes an anticipated $10 million in legal fees to continue this battle to play this year and $25 million in salary he’s losing during his suspension.

He certainly had the funds to fight and an ounce of hope, but did he have a real chance at winning this lawsuit? No. And I think he realized that too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvOI3Ypo4K4

Rodriguez doesn’t plan on bowing out of baseball, though. There’s no question the Yankees are a better team with A-Rod in the lineup. He has hit 654 career home runs, ranking fifth on the all-time list behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. If he is out there hitting home runs and driving in runs, I’d want him back too. But, you can’t always get what you want and shouldn’t if it’s under these circumstances. Many experts believe this is a smart decision by Rodriguez and suggest that if he lays low and does the right thing, the Yankees or another team might pick him up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHfQgzerZw0

Rodriguez’s contract with the Yankees runs through 2017 and he has made it clear that he intends to return to the field in 2015. The Yankees aren’t so sure though. The team has not indicated whether it intends to welcome him back after he serves his suspension or just pay off his $61 contract for the 2015-2017 seasons.

Sure, he’s an incredible asset, but sometimes it’s not always about numbers, it’s about standards and how high you hold them.