Rodriguez meets with MLB officials
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had a two-hour meeting with Major League Baseball officials Sunday. How much he told them about steroids is a secret — at least so far.
The commissioner's office released a statement saying Rodriguez was "co-operative" in an interview with officials from baseball's department of investigations and labor relations. No further details were revealed, and the statement said MLB would have no additional comment at this time.
MLB sought to interview the New York Yankees slugger about his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while he was with the Texas Rangers.
Rodriguez had two lawyers, Jay Reisinger and James E. Sharp, with him at the meeting in Tampa, Fla. Also present were union general counsel Michael Weiner, MLB vice-president of investigations Dan Mullin, MLB executive vice-president for labour relations Rob Manfred and senior vice-president and general counsel for labour Dan Halem, according to a person familiar with the meeting.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss details.
Earlier in the day, Rodriguez hit a pair of RBI doubles during a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, Fla., then left the ballpark without saying whether he was headed to the meeting with MLB.
MLB wanted to speak with Rodriguez about security issues involving a trainer from the Dominican Republic and the cousin the three-time MVP said injected him with a banned substance called "boli."
After being lifted from Sunday's game for a pinch runner in the fifth inning, Rodriguez spoke with reporters but declined to discuss when or if the meeting would take place. Then he got into a car with teammates Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira and left the ballpark.
Rodriguez did say he planned to be in Jupiter, Fla., by Sunday night to join the Dominican Republic team for World Baseball Classic preparations. He said the squad had a meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.
"I'm not sure what I'm doing. But I will be in Jupiter tonight," Rodriguez said. "Opportunity of a lifetime playing in the WBC. I'm excited about that."
Rodriguez, after receiving a mixed ovation that had more boos than cheers, hit a run-scoring double in the first off Reds starter Aaron Harang. Rodriguez fouled out in the third and had another RBI double against Arthur Rhodes in the fifth.
To get ready for the WBC, Rodriguez and the Dominican Republic will play three pre-tournament games against major league teams starting Tuesday against the Florida Marlins.