NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez's already strained relationship with the New York Yankees hit another low on Thursday when he pushed to be activated from the disabled list, the team refused and he had a lawyer join the discussion of his injury rehabilitation. Already a target of MLB'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 during an interview on WFAN radio. He responded: “I'd rather not get into that. I'm just frustrated that I'm not on the field tomorrow.” Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez issued a statement early Thursday saying he wanted to be activated for Friday's home game against Tampa Bay “The Yanks and I crossed signals,” he said in the statement. “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.” But that wasn't in the Yankees plans. “He'll continue tomorrow with some light conditioning, and then expand to more functional work from the 27th through the 31st,” general manager Brian Cashman said. — AP
