MIAMI — Alex Rodriguez’s wife filed for divorce Monday, calling her husband an adulterer who “emotionally abandoned his wife and children.”
“The marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken because of the husband’s extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct,” according to Cynthia Rodriguez’s petition for dissolution of marriage, filed in the family division of Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.
The New York Yankees third baseman, who earned his 12th All-Star selection Sunday, has refused to comment on his relationship with Madonna, who denied any romantic involvement with the slugger in a statement posted Sunday on people.com.
“The petitioner has exhausted every effort to salvage the marriage of the parties,” Cynthia Rodriguez said in the filing. “However, Alex has emotionally abandoned his wife and children and has left her with no choice but to divorce him.”
Rodriguez’s attorney in Miami, Ira M. Elegant, said he had not reviewed the divorce petition but added: “As you know, anyone can pay the filing fee and make allegations.”
Elegant also represents NBA star Shaquille O’Neal in his ongoing divorce from his wife, Shaunie.
A telephone message left for a Rodriguez spokesman Monday was not immediately returned.
The couple, who married in November 2002, have a $12 million, six-bedroom house in the upscale Miami suburb of Coral Gables. A company run by a corporation controlled by Rodriguez bought an apartment at Trump Park Avenue in Manhattan for $7.4 million in July 2005.
Cynthia Rodriguez has asked for primary custody of their two children, as well as child support and alimony.
Their two daughters are Natasha Alexander, 3, and 2-month-old Ella Alexander.
The filing comes just days after the third baseman was linked to Madonna in various media outlets. Cynthia Rodriguez later visited the Paris home of rocker Lenny Kravitz, who said she came to France to escape the media frenzy in New York and denied anything improper.
Cynthia Rodriguez’s lawyer, Maurice Kutner, declined to elaborate on the filing, which does not mention Madonna or any other alleged paramours by name.
“Cynthia has made it very clear to me that she wants to take the high road and protect her children and herself. There’s no vindictiveness here,” Kutner said. “She wants to resolve the issues between Alex and herself in an amicable fashion.”
The couple has had prenuptial agreement in place since Oct. 3, 2002, according to the divorce papers.
The divorce petition was filed the day after Rodriguez hit his 536th homer, tying Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for 13th place.
Rodriguez is in the first season of a $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees, a deal that allows him to earn up to $305 million. He made $185.45 million from 2001-7 from his contract with the Texas Rangers and Yankees.
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