NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Yankees intend to discipline Alex Rodriguez for seeking a second medical opinion on his injured leg without their permission, a person familiar with the team’s deliberations said Thursday.
The exact penalty had not yet been determined, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no statements were authorized. A fine appeared to be the most likely option.
The person also said that during a conference call Thursday, the Yankees and Rodriguez agreed to a timetable that would have the third baseman resume minor league rehabilitation games or simulated games about Aug. 1.
Rodriguez, who has been sidelined since hip surgery in January, issued a statement earlier in the day saying he wanted to be activated for Friday’s homestand opener against Tampa Bay.
The person said Rodriguez was examined Thursday by Dr. Daniel Murphy, the team’s orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Fla., who confirmed the diagnosis made last weekend by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in New York. The person said Murphy determined Rodriguez had made great improvement in the last few days and could be on an accelerated rehab schedule.
Dr. Michael Gross, the orthopedic director of The Sports Medicine Institute at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center, was retained by Rodriguez and said on radio station WFAN on Wednesday that he examined an MRI and could not detect an injury.
Under baseball’s labor contract, a player must notify his team in writing if he intends to seek a second medical opinion.
Yankees President Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman were on the conference call along with Tim Lentych, the head athletic trainer at the player development complex. Rodriguez also was on the call and was represented by Jordan Siev, co-head of the U.S. commercial litigation group at Reed Smith, a law firm used by A-Rod pal Jay-Z.
The person said the sides went through a day-by-day protocol for Rodriguez’s rehab.
Siev did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
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Associated Press Writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
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