Brian Cashman said he sees no risk and has zero problem with the Orthokine therapy Alex Rodriguez underwent on his right knee earlier this month in Germany — and the Yankees general manager revealed Wednesday that Rodriguez had the procedure done on his left shoulder as well.
“There appeared to be no downside,” Cashman said on a conference call after yesterday’s Post report about Rodriguez’s procedure surfaced. “Maybe this is an avenue that helps maintain his health. There’s clearly a belief system that this type of treatment is beneficial. And if it is, it was time well spent. And if it isn’t, nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
As The Post reported, Lakers star Kobe Bryant recommended the procedure to Rodriguez, because he had undergone it himself.
“Kobe had maintained, according to Alex, that he felt significantly better because of it,” Cashman said.
Cashman said Rodriguez was interested in the procedure as long as the Yankees gave their OK. Rodriguez asked the Yankees to check on it, which prompted team doctor Chris Ahmad to research the doctor who performed it (Dr. Peter Wehling) and speak to the Lakers’ doctor, too. Cashman said the procedure is permitted by both MLB and the NBA.
Rodriguez was in Dusseldorf from Dec. 5-9 when he had the procedures done. As for the shoulder, Cashman said it was bothering Rodriguez, but doesn’t think it was anything serious.
Rodriguez had surgery for a slightly torn meniscus in the knee in July, but Cashman said, “He had recovered we felt fully from his surgery. I think this is more about maintaining health going forward.” Cashman also said he believes Rodriguez is 100 percent.
“He was working out during the process and he continues to work out now,” he said. “Alex isn’t coming into spring training with a red flag for me in any capacity.”
Cashman said Rodriguez could have had the therapy in the U.S., but they opted to use Bryant’s doctor. Dr. Douglas Schottenstein, a board-certified neurologist and board-certified pain management specialist, told The Post yesterday he was trained by Dr. Wehling and is one of three doctors in the U.S. who does the procedure. In the U.S., the therapy is known as Regenokine.
Schottenstein does the therapy actively and said he has performed nearly 50 procedures.
Schottenstein said that “there’s really no risk of any allergic reaction or untoward reaction” other than the “one-in-a-million chance of infection” because of needle insertion.
“This is a procedure that is designed to either halt or reverse typical osteoarthritis. That’s wear-and-tear arthritis,” Schottenstein said. “Any breakdown of any cartilage or cartilagious-type structures should be benefited by this procedure. Because it basically redirects the substances in the body that would normally break down cartilage and cause this wear-and-tear arthritis.”
Schottenstein added, “All in all, what it really should do is further prevent any breakdown of the structures that cushion the knee.”
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The Yankees signed former Red Sox lefty reliever Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.
The 36-year-old Okajima has held lefties to a lifetime .218 average and a .600 OPS in 399 at-bats. The Yankees’ only lefty reliever for much of last season was Boone Logan.
Cashman also said the Yankees are “still talking to [free agent Andruw Jones], yes. But I have nothing to report from that.”