A-Rod: I can't wait to rejoin 'great' Yankees team

One day after being spotted outside a Manhattan restaurant for the first time since his name was linked to the Biogenesis scandal — an anti-aging clinic being investigated by MLB for performance-enhancing drugs — Alex Rodriguez issued a statement saying he is getting ready to rejoin his Yankees teammates but didn't address the PED accusations.

"Right now I’m dedicating 100% of my energy and focus on my rehabilitation. I am conducting two rehab sessions each and every day in an effort to get back on the field and rejoin my Yankees teammates," Rodriguez said in his statement. "I think we have a great team and I want to be a part of it."

The 37-year-old A-Rod is expected to be out until midseason after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. Some experts think his return could take longer.

Right after the Jan. 16 operation, The Miami News Times reported that records from the Biogenesis clinic were uncovered alleging that Rodriguez purchased PEDs over the course of four years.  The facility is under investigation by MLB.

A-Rod's statement didn't mention the PED controversy but his spokesman reiterated  that the Yankees third baseman is currently "working on rehabilitating his surgically repaired hip under the supervision of Dr. Brian (sic) Kelly and his trainer Pete Draovitch."

On Wednesday, A-Rod was photographed hobbling out of of the Atlantic Grill seafood eatery with his girlfriend Torrie Wilson, but clammed up when reporters approached. 

The Yankees $114 million hardball and chain has denied he got PEDs from Anthony Bosch — the clinic's owner — through his spokesman, but A-Rod still has not yet addressed the matter publicly himself.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez would not be joining his teammates in Tampa for spring training while he rehabs.

Cano denies any ties to Biogenesis clinic or PED use

Robinson Cano has acknowledged his close friendship with Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera, but the Yankees second baseman said he doesn't know anything about Biogenesis — the anti-aging clinic that had both players' names listed in its records.

Asked at the end of a press conference Monday at George M. Steinbrenner Field if he ever used performance-enhancing drugs or was anyway linked to Biogenesis, Cano didn't answer the first question and only answered the second.

"I don't know where that place is at," said Cano. "The first time I heard about that was when the things came out."

The "things" he speaks of are reports that Rodriguez and Cabrera were linked to PEDs through the Miami clinic's records and is now being investigated by MLB.

Three reporters followed Cano out of the presser into the parking lot and — after he didn't answer the question regarding ever using PEDs — the Yankees slugger finally answered "No" to ever using the banned substances.

Since Cano is so close to Rodriguez and Cabrera, many consider him guilty just by association.

"It doesn't matter who you are hanging out [with], Cano said. "Everyone has their personal lives and they do what they want. Like I say, through the good and the bad times  they are always going to be my friends. I'll let them handle it."

The perennial All-Star has never tested positive for PEDs, despite false reports tweeted by a North Carolina TV station last summer, but the implication of guilty by association comes at a bad time for Cano as he plays out the season before becoming a highly desirable free agent.

Cano, who is represented by Scott Boras, may be seeking a 10-year, $275 million deal similar to A-Rod's — one that will pay Cano until he's 40-years-old.

The badgered ballplayer defended his deflection of the PED question.

"It's always going to bother you when somebody tries to say stuff like that," said a defiant Cano. "These kinds of things, sometimes as a player, you know what you do and what you're capable of doing you'll be fine.  It's more your family. Those are the kinds of things that really bother me."

Jeter won't comment on A-Rod PED report until teammate himself talks first

Derek Jeter has taken to the field for a full week now and even hit in the batting cage Monday for the first time since breaking his ankle last October.  The Yankees shortstop took 55 grounders — but doesn't move move laterally — and said his left ankle is healing right on schedule. He expects to be ready by Opening Day on April 1.

"Everything's been good, everything's right where it needs to be," said Jeter.  "The goal is April 1, that's when we start our season. I'm progressing, right where I need to be."

While Jeter was upbeat and open about his rehab, one issue the Captain would not discuss is the recent allegation of PED use by Alex Rodriguez — until his teammate talked about it first.

"Let him speak first," said Jeter, true to his m.o.  "Everybody knows that.  I don't comment on anyone until they speak first, so let him address his situation before I comment on it."

Jeter did say he was happy about playing with the Yankees newest acquisition, Travis Hafner, and probably wouldn't play in the team's first spring training game on Feb. 23.

"I guess I'd have to sit down with our trainers and doctors to see what their plan is in terms of when I start playing games," Jeter said. "You've got to progress and I've been progressing just fine.

"Once everything is where it's supposed to be, you just get in baseball shape, which doesn't take that long, I don't think."

Jeter is only taking grounders directly head-on and— unlike his answer to the A-Rod question — isn't moving side-to-side on the field just yet.

Jeter even joked about his 2014 contract option — which will be hanging over his head throughout the 2013 season."

"Next year?" Jeter said.  "No.  I'm trying to make it through this week, so, no, I'm not thinking about next year."

A-Rod, other MLB players linked to recent PED purchases: Report

A report in the Miami New Times on Tuesday alleges that Alex Rodriguez purchased illegal performance-enhancing drugs from a South Florida anti-aging clinic over the prior four years.

The explosive report says that the newspaper obtained records from Biogenesis, a clinic that has closed and was owned by Anthony Bosch, the son of Florida physician Pedro Bosch who was linked to Manny Ramirez when the former Los Angeles Dodger was suspended for illegal PED usage in 2009.

According to records given to the Miami New Times, the clinic repeatedly mentions Rodriguez, as well as many other sports stars and prominent major league baseball players — including Gio Gonzalez, Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon, reports Yahoo! Sports.com.

Rodriguez, the New York Yankees star third baseman has already admitted using illegal PEDs while he played with the Texas Rangers from 2001 through 2003, but has denied using anything since.

According to the clinic's records obtained by the newspaper, A-Rod — identified in the records as  "Alex Rodriguez," "Alex Rod," or "Cacique," the name of a pre-Columbian Caribbean chief — paid $3,500 in 2009 for what is identified as "1.5 HGH (sports perf.), creams test., glut., MIC, supplement, sports perf. Diet."

Both the HGH and testosterone cream are banned by MLB.

Another record links  "Cacique" to IGF-1 — a banned substance that stimulates insulin production and muscle growth.

Yuri Sucart — A-Rod's cousin and purported drug mule when he was in Texas — was also identified as having paid Bosch $500 for a weeklong supply of HGH in 2009.  Sucart was banned from any non-public areas involving the Yankees including the clubhouse or team buses back in 2011.

Other baseball players identified in the clinic's records include former Yankee players Cabrera and Colon — who were both suspended by the league last season — and Nationals pitcher Gonzalez and Rangers outfielder Cruz.

The Yankees will not act upon the information until Major League Baseball vets the situation, according to an industry source.  This could lead to Rodriguez being suspended if the evidence is able to be obtained and authenticated — which could take a while.

A-Rod is currently recovering from hip surgery and is not expected to be back with the team until at least the All-Star break.