There was just no time for Derek Jeter on Alex Rodriguez’s busy Mother’s Day.
After A-Rod was in Miami with his mother on Sunday morning, he was seen later in the day in New York City, headed to dinner at Nobu with girlfriend Jennifer Lopez and her mom, according to TMZ.
A-Rod’s rep told the website he was back in New York “after 6 p.m.”; Jeter’s jersey retirement ceremony started before 7 in the Bronx.
While Rodriguez was absent at the Stadium, virtually all of Jeter’s other notable former teammates were there, such as Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte.
A-Rod and Jeter, once close friends, have had a rocky relationship over the years despite playing together for 10 seasons with the Yankees. They had an awkward joint television interview while hosting a recent charity event, in which they were asked about the state of their relationship. Jeter was said to be “beside-himself angry” to be put in that situation.
Rodriguez did tweet his congratulations to Jeter on Sunday afternoon, but he was nowhere to be found in The Bronx.
Rodriguez could have added to the strained relationship after The Post reported he was offered a part of an ownership group led by Tagg Romney, the son of 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, that is a contender to purchase the Marlins from owner Jeffrey Loria. Rodriguez reportedly turned it down.
A-Rod denied the report on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” saying he was never “offered” any sort of role that would have had him competing with Jeter and 2016 GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush, the son of the 41st president George H.W. Bush.
“I want to make it clear: I was never offered an ownership or position with the Marlins,” said Rodriguez on Monday. “There were some crazy rumors out there. I can just tell you that Tagg Romney and his group is very, very impressive — strong balance sheet, very intellectual. If you look at (Mitt) Romney going back to the late ‘70s [working for] Bain [& Company], private equity, LBOs (leveraged buyouts), they are the master. Their track record speaks for itself.”