Spare the Rod: Yankees refuse to activate Alex Rodriguez, instead order more rehab

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is investigating him, the Yankees are angry with him and Alex Rodriguez is miffed.

A-Rod's strained relationship with his team hit another low on Thursday when he kept pushing to be activated from the disabled list and New York kept pushing back. He wound up having a lawyer join in when the sides discussed how to rehabilitate his slightly injured leg.

Already a target of Major League Baseball's drug investigation, the third baseman angered the Yankees when he obtained a second medical opinion on his strained left quadriceps this week without informing the team in writing, a step required by the sport's collective bargaining agreement. The Yankees intend to discipline him, most likely with a fine.

"Do you trust the Yankees?" Rodriguez was asked Thursday during an interview on WFAN radio.

A-Rod's answer was telling.

"Um. You know, I'd rather not get into that," he responded. "I'm just frustrated that I'm not on the field tomorrow."

Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez issued a statement saying he wanted to be activated for Friday's homestand opener against Tampa Bay. But that wasn't in the Yankees plans.

A-Rod went public with his disenchantment.

"Obviously I'm very, very disappointed," he said. "I know I can help my team. Obviously, I'm frustrated but I agreed to this five-day plan, and on we go."

He repeatedly said he told the Yankees he was ready to return.

"Tomorrow night would be the perfect night to come back and get in the lineup," he said.

Whether he gets back on a big league field any time soon or ever plays for the Yankees again remains to be seen.

He is among the dozen or so players under investigation by MLB; he has said in the past that he used PEDs from 2001-03 while with Texas but maintained he has not used them since.

The Yankees intend to discipline A-Rod for seeking a second medical opinion without their permission, a person familiar with the team's deliberations said.

The exact penalty had not been determined, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no statements were authorized. A fine appeared to be the most likely option.

Meantime, Rodriguez's return from hip surgery has created more drama than most players experience in their entire careers.

Seemingly days away from rejoining the Yankees, Rodriguez injured a leg last weekend and was sent to New York for an MRI on Sunday. Team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad diagnosed a grade 1 strain, the least severe level.

Rodriguez was re-examined Thursday by Dr. Daniel Murphy, the Yankees' orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Fla., who confirmed Ahmad's diagnosis. Cashman said Murphy determined there was "clearly some improvement."

Yankees President Randy Levine and Cashman got on a 15-minute conference call with Tim Lentych, the head athletic trainer at the player development complex in Tampa; Rodriguez; and Jordan Siev, co-head of the U.S. commercial litigation group at Reed Smith, a law firm used by A-Rod pal Jay-Z.

"Just want to make sure that everything is documented properly," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez's statement infuriated Yankees management, which already had told him it determines his return schedule.

"I think the Yanks and I crossed signals," the three-time AL MVP said in the statement issued by spokesman Ron Berkowitz. "I don't want any more mix-ups. I'm excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and I'm ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, let's play."

Rodriguez has hit .200 (8 for 40) with two homers and eight RBIs in 13 minor league games. About a week before he began the injury rehab assignment on July 2, Rodriguez tweeted that the surgeon who operated on his hip "gave me the best news - the green light to play games again!"

Cashman memorably responded: "Alex should just shut the ... up."

Rodriguez said he'd like to rehab with the major league team, as captain Derek Jeter is doing as he comes back from a quadriceps injury.

But the Yankees seem to regard A-Rod as toxic.