A-Rod's cousin selling World Series ring he got as gift

Alex Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, whom A-Rod reportedly once said convinced the New York Yankees slugger into taking steroids — is taking the World Series ring A-Rod gave him as a gift and putting it on the auction block Monday.

The diamond-studded, 14-karat white gold 2009 World Series ring could fetch as much as $40,000, according to memorabilia auctioneer Ken Goldin.

"It's a unique item," Goldin said.  "There is not doubt that Alex is the greatest player of his generation, and this was his only World Series victory."

Goldin purchased the one-of-a-kind ring for an undisclosed sum and cosigned it to Goldin Auctions.  The opening bid is $5,000.

Sucart reportedly approached a South Miami memorabilia collector and asked him if he would be interested in the valuable bling that is the same as the rings issued to the Yankees players.  The collector passed it on to Goldin.

How's that for gratitude?

The size-16 ring is emblazoned with "Rodriguez" on one side above the Yankee logo, and "World Champions 2009 Unity" on the other.  It is accompanied by a notarized letter of authenticity and an affidavit from Sucart.

A-Rod's cousin Yuri made headlines after the Yankees banned him from the team's facilities — including the clubhouse, training rooms and nonpublic areas the Yankees frequented — after he was fingered as A-Rod's drug mule picking up substances known as boli for the Yankees star.

Bidding for the Rodriguez ring begin Monday at GoldinAuctions.com and end on April 5.