A-Rod Would Rather Play Ball with Yanks Than MLB Brass

Alex Rodriguez is hoping that he can take a rain check on his scheduled meeting today with MLB officials so that he can play in his Grapefruit League game with the Yankees. The slugger was expected to be on the team bus this morning to Sarasota to play the Reds in what will be his final spring training game with the team before he breaks to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

MLB investigators were supposed to question A-Rod in Tampa to discuss his admitted steroid usage during 2001-03, the involvement of his sidekick cousin who was recently banned from Yankee facilities and just what his relationship is with controversial trainer Angel Presinal. The News says that the meeting may now have to be later in the week in Jupiter, FL, where Rodriguez will be training with his WBC teammates from the Dominican Republic—the nation that he says was the scene of the crime in obtaining the illegal substances he tested positive for.

There is little fear that A-Rod could be suspended from anything he would disclose, but still Manager Joe Girardi said, "I think you have to be a little bit concerned any time you're going in front of (MLB). There's been somewhat of a precedent...but there's still always a concern."