Yankees official: A-Rod picking up women during game

• A Yankees official confirmed Rodriguez flirted with a woman near the dugout during Game 1
• Rodriguez denied the reports of flirting and said he would not talk about his personal life
• The highest paid player in baseball is also facing criticism for hitting .120 in the Yankees ALCS loss

DETROIT -- Alex Rodriguez was not on the field for much of the ALCS, but he was playing the field.

A New York Yankees front office official confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday that the embattled third baseman was trying to pick up women after he had been removed from last Saturday's Game 1 in New York. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Rodriquez was getting almost as much media attention for flirting with two women in the stands as he was for being benched during a postseason series.

Rodriguez has denied he was flirting during the game, according to the New York Post, and has said he would not talk about his personal life.

He did, however, talk about his professional life after the team was eliminated from the postseason by the Tigers on Thursday. He said he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause and plans to return next season to the Yankees.

"That's correct,'' Rodriguez said. "I have a lot to prove. And I'll come back on a mission.''

Rodriguez, benched three times and taken out three times for a pinch-hitter, batted just .120 in the series. He didn't start the last two games of the American League Championship Series.

"The thing about this whole situation,'' Rodriguez said, "if I'm playing my game, (manager) Joe (Girardi) has no choice but to play me. If I'm not playing my game then I leave it open for options. I've got to look in the mirror.

"I sat in this room in 2006 and there were a lot of doubters. I said I was going back to the drawing board and I did. I came back with a vengeance in 2007. I'm looking forward to that again."

Rodriguez has five years and $114 million remaining on his contract and said that he definitely will return.

"I love New York City and I love everything about being a Yankee,'' Rodriguez said. "The highs are very high and lows are extremely low. There's no question the last two weeks were extremely difficult, not only on me but all my teammates.''

Rodriguez, when asked if he thought he needed to talk privately this winter with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman or Girardi, said there was no need.

"I don't think so,'' Rodriguez said. "Look, I know Joe didn't want to sit me. It's not something that was easy for him. But again, if I do what I do, Joe doesn't have a choice and neither does Cashman.

"If I am who I know I can be they'll be worrying about other guys. My job is to work hard, come prepared and be a force.

"My track record is pretty darn good. Look, I had plenty of opportunities. I just didn't get it done. I plan to be here and I plan to come back and be productive for this team for quite awhile.

"My focus is to stay here. Let's make that very, very clear. I don't expect to be mediocre. I expect to do what I've been doing for a long time.''