New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Sunday that he's "not comfortable" talking to third baseman Alex Rodriguez, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Cashman indicated that Rodriguez's lawyers and potential lawsuits have him choosing his words wisely, telling Hoch:
"I'm not comfortable talking to Alex on this stuff, because I feel we're in a litigious environment, so I am not comfortable anymore talking to him. Hello, goodbye, and that's it. Because anything else, I don't want to be distorted, to be quite honest."
Cashman acknowledged that the Yankees and Rodriguez are "stuck" together as the two sides attempt to handle the third baseman's 211-game suspension and appeal. Cashman believes that Rodriguez is helping the team on the field despite the distractions, and said that the club has no intentions of releasing Rodriguez.
The general manager also rejected claims made Saturday by Joseph Tacopina, the attorney representing Rodriguez in the appeal of his 211-game suspension. Tacopina alleged that the Yankees withheld MRI results during the 2012 playoffs that revealed Rodriguez's torn labrum. Rodriguez would eventually need offseason surgery on his hip, and missed the first four months of the year recovering from the surgery.
Cashman said that the Yankees don't have anything to hide from Rodriguez, stating:
"The medical records are what they are. And if somebody wants to dispute them and fight over an opinion, that's fine. But there's a process for it. No one purposely did anything other than try to put the best team out on that field on a daily basis."
Rodriguez has started the process of filing a medical grievance against his employer.
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