Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez already is backing off the retirement talk

Alex Rodriguez might be leaving baseball soon.

Not real soon. But possibly pretty soon. Or maybe not soon at all.

The New York Yankees slugger seemed to tell ESPN he plans to retire when his contract is up following the 2017 season.

“I won’t play after next year,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “I’ve really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be Dad.”

But things got confusing later in the day when Rodriguez told the New York Post via 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.’’

With 687 home runs in his 21 seasons, Rodriguez needs to average 38 home runs over the next two seasons in order to replace Barry Bonds (762) atop the all-time list.

A-Rod has surpassed that number eight times during his career, but not since hitting 54 in 2007. Still, Rodriguez knocked the ball out of the park 33 times last year. Two more years like that and he could at least be in Bonds’ neighborhood. Might be tough to just walk away at that point.

“I think he’s allowed to change his mind,’’ Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said. “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.’’

Speaking of last year, Rodriguez also scored 83 runs, had a batting average of .250 and slugging percentage of .486 with 121 hits in 145 at bats and 151 games -- not bad for a guy who turned 40 in the middle of the season.

The three-time American League MVP has admitted to using banned substances from 2001-03 and was suspended for all of the 2014 season for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.