1:13PM EDT October 31. 2012 - The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez were last seen together two weeks ago, and when they split for the winter, everyone wondered if the separation would become permanent.

Sure, like any rocky marriage, they have a contract. And, like any bad marriage, they can get a divorce.

Still, it doesn't take the general managers meetings in Palm Springs, Calif., next week, the owners meetings in Chicago in two weeks and baseball's annual winter meetings next month in Nashville to reach one undeniable conclusion:

You cannot be traded when no one wants you. Not one team, a Yankees official told USA TODAY Sports, has called the club asking about Rodriguez. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the Yankees do not publicly discuss trade possibilities.

Then again, as a person familiar with Rodriguez's thinking said, there is not one team for which Rodriguez is willing to waive his full no-trade clause. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Now, just like a rancorous marriage, they've decided to stick it out together, at least until one of them can't take it anymore.

No one in his right mind believes that Rodriguez will be a Yankee until his contract, and the remaining $114 million in salary, expires in 2017.

The Yankees and Rodriguez know this cannot possibly work for the long haul, but for the time being they have no choice but to act civilly.

Manager Joe Girardi, who actually called the Yankee Stadium public address announcer to inform him not to mention Rodriguez's name when he pinch-hit for him during the playoffs, according to CBS Sports.com., talked with Rodriguez for an hour this past week.

It was the first time they had spoken on the phone since Rodriguez was benched for the third and final time of the playoffs, with Rodriguez speaking for 20 minutes with the news media before departing the night the club was swept out of the American League Championship Series by the Detroit Tigers.