Wife of Yankees slugger "A-Rod" files for divorce

MIAMI (Reuters) - The wife of New York Yankees superstar Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez filed for divorce in Miami on Monday, citing the slugger's alleged infidelities.

"The marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken because of the husband's extra martial affairs and other marital misconduct," Cynthia Rodriguez said in papers filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

She did not elaborate on her reasons for seeking dissolution of the nearly six-year-old marriage, saying only that she had "exhausted every effort to salvage the marriage."

But the court filing followed recent media reports suggesting that the 32-year-old All-Star was involved with pop star Madonna, 49.

Madonna denied having an affair with Rodriguez on Sunday and said, in a statement to People magazine, she was not planning to get divorced from her British husband, film director Guy Ritchie.

"I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study," she said.

Madonna and the Yankee player share an interest in the Kabbalah religion, a mystical form of Judaism, according to media reports.

The Rodriguezes, who own a waterfront home in Coral Gables, Florida, have two children and Cynthia Rodriguez said she wanted exclusive possession of the house for herself and the children.

She is also seeking child support and various cash payouts from Rodriguez.

"The husband is well able to pay all forms of alimony," the court papers said.

In December, Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees, making him the highest-paid player in baseball.

An attorney for Alex Rodriguez was not immediately available for comment but the court said he had 20 days to respond to the divorce petition in writing.

(Editing by Eric Beech)