TAMPA — Baseball’s most wanted man drove by a group of reporters and autograph seekers at the Yankees minor league complex Wednesday without stopping or saying a word.
In some ways, it was like many other days for Alex Rodriguez, who continued his rehab from offseason hip surgery by spending just over three hours at the complex, including about an hour on the field.
But Rodriguez has found himself once again in the unpleasant glare of suspicion after Monday’s ESPN report revealed that Major League Baseball was looking to suspend him and others for their alleged connection to the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, its former owner Anthony Bosch and possible link to performance enhancing drugs. MLB could seek a 100-game suspension for Rodriguez, as well as others — such as the Brewers’ Ryan Braun.
If Rodriguez has been affected by the most recent allegations, he did his best to play it cool.
Though Rodriguez typically arrives at the minor league complex in a luxurious Maybach, yesterday he drove up himself in a black Chevy SUV. He also made no attempt to hide from the cameras perched over the outfield fence at Field 1, where Rodriguez did his typical workout routine.
He took 61 swings on the field and though he managed to hit a handful over the left-center field wall, Rodriguez displayed none of the opposite field power that has made him so dangerous throughout his career.
In The Bronx, Rodriguez’s teammates tried to downplay any potential issues they might have with the third baseman (or DH) if he ever makes it back.
“I don’t think that’s something we worry about,” Brett Gardner said. “Alex hasn’t been around a whole lot this year, but when he is, he’s like a brother to us. He’s been here for a long time and we’ll let that whole situation play out however it’s going to play out.”
CC Sabathia said the team has so far not been impacted by the news.
“No facts have come out yet,” Sabathia said. “We don’t know what happened. …. We have to wait and see what happens.”
In a statement, the players’ union also warned against jumping to any conclusions.
“The Players Association has been in regular contact with the Commissioner’s Office regarding the Biogenesis investigation,” wrote MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner. “They are in the process of interviewing players and every player has been or will be represented by an attorney from the Players Association.
“The Commissioner’s Office has assured us that no decisions regarding discipline have been made or will be made until those interviews are completed. It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged those investigations. The Players Association has every interest in both defending the rights of players and in defending the integrity of our joint program. We trust that the Commissioner’s Office shares these interests.”
Rodriguez isn’t the only Yankee who could face discipline. Francisco Cervelli, who admitted to having dealt with Biogenesis, is recuperating from a fractured right hand in Tampa and sped away yesterday without talking. Rodriguez, who is in the middle years of his $275 million contract, is due back from the 60-day disabled list by the end of the month.
If Rodriguez were to get benched for 100 games, CC Sabathia said the Yankees would survive.
“It’s up to us [and] the guys in here to support our teammate, but keep playing,” Sabathia said. “Alex is one of the best ever to play. Anytime he’s in here it makes your team better. But we have the guys in here to step up and keep going. … I think there’d be support. Everybody makes mistakes.”
Just some more than others.
— Additional reporting
by Mark Hale and
Howie Kussoy in New York