TAMPA — Hold off on all those parting gifts for Alex Rodriguez.
The aging Yankees slugger still may be swinging his home-run bat in the major leagues after the 2017 season.
After ESPN reported Wednesday that Rodriguez is retiring after two more years, when his current contract expires, he told The Post later in the day in an email, “I’m thinking in terms of my contract which ends in 2017. After that, we’ll see what happens. I’ve got two years and more than 300 games to play.’’
In other words, a lot could happen.
Rodriguez said he is only thinking in terms of his current contract, everything else is still to be determined. If Rodriguez, who blasted 33 home runs last season, has two more strong seasons, and if a contract is offered, he could continue to play.
Rodriguez, 40, has 687 career home runs and is still owed $21 million each of the next two years. He was suspended the entire 2014 season for his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
A source said Rodriguez was only thinking in terms of this specific contract in his comments to ESPN and he didn’t think he had made any retirement announcement.
“Who knows what happens in the future?’’ the source said, adding there is no concrete plan.
Teammate Mark Teixeira said Rodriguez is capable of being a DH “another five years if he wanted to.”
“Talent doesn’t go away. Your body can slow down to the point where you just can’t perform anymore,’’ Teixeira told The Post. “But Alex isn’t even close to being there. This guy is one of the greatest hitters of all time. I don’t see him skipping a beat this season.’’
If Rodriguez doesn’t skip a beat each of the next two seasons, A-Rod at 42-plus may be playing at a ballpark near you.
And if the Yankees are not interested perhaps another team would show interest.
If Rodriguez hits 27 more home runs he will tie Babe Ruth at 714. If Rodriguez has two more good years he could be within distance of tying Barry Bonds’ all-time home run mark of 762 — he is 75 back going into this season. Anything is possible.
Rodriguez is fourth on the all-time home run list.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez could continue to play and nothing would surprise him.
“Yeah, I think he’s allowed to change his mind,’’ Girardi said in Viera, Fla. “With his love of playing the game and competing, if he had two really good years, I wouldn’t be surprised if he changed his mind.’’
A-Rod’s former hitting coach Kevin Long said in Dunedin, Fla., that he was surprised when the news first surfaced about Rodriguez retiring in two years.
“If you knew Alex the way I knew him and you knew how much baseball means to him, you kind of have an inclination that he might play as long as his body is able to hold up,’’ the Mets hitting coach said. “ I think it’s at the point of his career where it is becoming tougher and tougher to stay in shape and be ready and prepare and play at the level he expects himself to play at, I think that is why you are hearing about retirement.’’
Or not hearing about retirement.
In the report, Rodriguez was quoted as saying, “I won’t play after next year. I’ve really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be Dad.”
Rodriguez has found a way to be “Dad’’ and still excel as a DH. That role could continue. It all depends on what opportunities are out there for Rodriguez.
The Alex Show always is intriguing.
There are always twists and turns. There were quite a few Wednesday. For now the show goes on and could have a run longer than two years.
— Additional reporting by George King and Dan Martin