Alex Rodriguez Skipped Rehab Start Without Yankees’ Permission
July 13, 2013 · Alex Ballentine · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The saga that has become the relationship between third baseman Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees organization continues.
UPDATE: Monday, July 15, at 5:55 p.m. ET by Tom Kinslow
Alex Rodriguez admitted to skipping a rehab start without the Yankees permission, per Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger.
Rodriguez confirmed that he did not attend Friday’s game with Class-A Tampa. The no-show upset team officials. Despite the lingering divide – one made obvious by general manager Brian Cashman’s expletive-laden rebuke earlier this summer – Rodriguez attempted to provide a positive spin on the relationship.
“Whatever I do with the organization, I’ll definitely keep private,” Rodriguez said before taking batting practice on Monday. “But I will tell you, I think, over the last several weeks we’ve had very productive conversations. And I think we’re all aligned to come back on time and healthy.”
The 20-day assignment ends on July 21. Rodriguez expressed excitement about being “a week away” from rejoining the major-league club.
—End of update—
UPDATE: Saturday, July 13, at 10:33 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford
ESPN’s Andrew Marchand provides an update on A-Rod’s situation:
The New York Yankees don’t plan on disciplining Alex Rodriguez even though he failed to show up for a scheduled minor league rehab game on Friday, a source confirmed. The game in Tampa, Fla., was subsequently rained out.
—End of update—
Original Text
According to Joel Sherman the New York Post, the Yankees slugger infuriated team officials when he no-showed what would have been his seventh rehab start on Friday. Sherman reports that Rodriguez was expected to make an appearance for the Single-A Tampa Yankees as part of his rehabilitation from a hip injury.
However, the slugger didn’t show up to the game, and Rodriguez eventually let Yankees officials know that he wouldn’t be playing.
The game would ultimately be rained out anyway, but team officials were reportedly still angered by his decision. Rodriguez has yet to speak to the media about the issue.
Rodriguez met with MLB officials earlier in the day on Friday to discuss his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs and involvement in the Biogenesis scandal that could see him suspended for life, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.
If Major League Baseball officials don’t consider each alleged violation a separate instance, Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun could face suspensions of either 50 or 100 games, per Sherman.
According to Sherman, Rodriguez is still scheduled to participate in the Tampa Yankees game on Saturday after two consecutive rainouts. The 37-year-old is in the midst of a 20-day rehab assignment.
A-Rod has yet to make an appearance for the New York Yankees this season, but he hit .272 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI last year. Suspensions from the Biogenesis case are expected to be handed down in the coming weeks, per Sherman.
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