I wanted to retire after I played for the Mets. My family said wait one year, that there was no need to rush it. I gave it a year and now it's time to say goodbye.

I had no interest in steroids. I didn't need them, and I didn't want them. I never wanted them. From the get-go, I've frequently mouthed off about their negative impact on the game.

I'm sure everybody in a family has a person in their family that has a problem ? drug related or whatever. He happens to be the one. It's just one of those things where when he hurts, I hurt.

I've played for teams that were family-oriented organizations. They made you feel like family. The Yankees are strictly a business. Baseball is your life and everything else is secondary.

When I gave that compliment last year, ... I was hoping that he was going to retire.

I'm a year at a time guy. If I have a good year, go on the next one. I want to go out on a high note.