Cashman Tells Rodriguez to Make His Day and File Grievance

Now Brian Cashman is calling Alex Rodriguez's bluff.

He is daring the troubled third baseman to file a grievance with the MLB Players Association if he feels the Yankees are preventing him from playing if he is indeed healthy.

Here's the recap: a week before he was scheduled to return from his minor league rehab assignment, Rodriguez told the Yankees that he strained his quad. Yankees doctors examined him, and found that it was a grade 1 strain, and pushed back his time table for a return.

Of course, Rodriguez didn't trust the Yankees doctors, and went for a second opinion against Yankee wishes. He checked with Dr. Michael Gross who is the Director of the Active Center of Health and Wellness at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ, and according to sources, told A-Rod that he was healthy and didn't see a strain.

Of course Gross tried to back out of those claims on Mike Francesa's WFAN show this past week. This is also the same Dr. Gross who was fined by the NJ Attorney General's office some $40,000 for failing to provided adequate treatment for his patients.

Then there is this nugget. That Rodriguez doesn't trust the Yankees because he feels the organization doesn't want to activate him so they can recoup the $28 million owed to him through insurance. IF that is the case, he could file a grievance with the league.

" Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in a statement last night said he heard from Rodriguez via text message yesterday the slugger had retained Gross to review his medical situation.

“Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain,” the statement read. “As you know, it is the Yankees’ desire to have Alex return to the lineup as soon as possible. And we have done everything to try and accomplish this.'" (NY POST). 

What twisted webs Rodriguez has weaved for the Yankees. Rodriguez has been belligerent, sending out public tweets about his progress, and making time to do interviews on talk radio without the Yankees consent.

The Yankees are crossing their fingers that MLB suspends A-Rod for 100 games, if not for life for his refusal to cooperate with MLB and its steroid investigation into Biogenesis.

Chances are he will be suspended. Whether he is banned for life is something that is highly unlikely, but the scumbag deserves it.

This story is not going anywhere any time soon.