Alex Rodriguez -- MLB Reduces Suspension, But Still Says ... Take a Year Off

Alex Rodriguez got his 211 game suspension reduced -- but Major League Baseball still slapped him with a full year out of the game ... and the now the Yankees slugger is vowing to fight the ruling in Federal Court.

A-Rod had been loudly and angrily fighting MLB​ in arbitration hearings to get a reduction of the suspension over his alleged connection to a steroids clinic in Miami.

MLB just announced it's cutting his punishment to 162 games ... which will cost A-Rod the entire 2014 season, and at least $25 million!

Rodriguez wanted the suspension lifted completely ... because he says he's never failed a test for performance enhancing drugs.

A-Rod says MLB has a severe lack of "credible evidence" ... and still believes a Federal Judge will see it his way, and "overturn the suspension."