Associated Press
CLEARWATER, Fla. ó Alex Rodriguez refused to address allegations by Jose Canseco, who claims he introduced the three-time MVP to a steroids dealer.
iItís over as far as Iím concerned,î Rodriguez said Wednesday after his New York Yankees lost 4-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies. iNo further comment on the matter. Iím just excited to be playing baseball.î
In the book, iVindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball,î Canseco claimed he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer named iMax.î Excerpts from the book, slated for publication on April 1, were posted on deadspin.com before being removed Wednesday.
Canseco wrote that Rodriguez approached him years ago and asked where ioneî might acquire steroids. During an interview to be broadcast Thursday by ABCís iNightline,î Canseco said he wonít produce evidence to back his claim.
iThe timingís not right,î Canseco said, according to excerpts released by ABC. iLetís see how Alex reacts. Letís see if they all call me a liar again. Howís that for you? Letís see if all of a sudden theyíre going to call me a liar again.î
During the ABC interview, Canseco refused to identify iMax.î
iWeíll keep him out of it until the time is proper,î Canseco said.
Yankees officials arenít concerned about a potential distraction.
iAlex is one of the guys who can focus on the job at hand,î New York manager Joe Girardi said. iI think he understands his surroundings better now. Iíve always felt that it takes players a little bit of time to figure out New York.
iHeís always going to command a lot of attention because of the type of player he is,î Girardi added.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman talked briefly with Rodriguez.
iHeís been through so much over so long,î Cashman said. iHeís fine. You donít predict the future on this stuff, but I would think that this is something that isnít an issue for him. Iíve got a lot of other things to be worried about more than Alex Rodriguez, to be honest. Youíd like to think heíd be the least of our worries.î