American League Capsules: A-Rod: Lawyers are setting up interview with feds

TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez may soon be talking to federal authorities, and he hopes it will happen close to spring training.

Lawyers for the Yankees slugger are setting up an interview as part of an investigation into a Canadian doctor who is the focus of a cross-border drug smuggling case involving human growth hormone.

Rodriguez said the site is under discussion but he would like it to be near the team complex in Tampa rather than in Buffalo, N.Y., where the U.S. investigation is being conducted. He expects to soon know the interview date.

"The idea is to schedule something that allows me to cooperate and also get my work in," Rodriguez said Wednesday. "Obviously doing it here would be fantastic."

Rodriguez would not indicate if he pressed his lawyers to lock in a date, but he said they have been working on it for "maybe a few days. I don’t know."

Kathleen Mehltretter, acting U.S. attorney for western New York, said it is not unusual for investigators to go to those they want to interview but declined to comment on the investigation. Maureen Dempsey, an FBI spokeswoman in Buffalo, would not comment on Rodriguez’s statements, citing the investigation.

Rodriguez lawyer James Sharp did not respond to several messages left by The Associated Press.

On March 1, Rodriguez said he was aware federal agents wanted to talk to him about his relationship with Dr. Anthony Galea. The doctor told the AP on Monday that he helped the three-time MVP recover from a hip injury last year but prescribed only anti-inflammatories, not HGH.

Rodriguez said he is not frustrated by the wait or questions from the media because the investigation is "not about me."

Other baseball players, including Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran of the Mets, have been contacted by federal investigators regarding Galea. Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street has said federal investigators might want to talk to him about the case. Reyes and Beltran have said they did not receive HGH from Galea.

Rodriguez has appeared more at ease this year than last spring, when he acknowledged using steroids from 2001-03. Dressed in workout gear Wednesday, he said his surgically repaired hip from a year ago was much better.

"It just feels good to be back at work and have the freedom and flexibility to have a regular camp," he said. "There’s no question I want to ramp things up a little bit and obviously work diligently more than anything down here, not overdo things."

At some point this season, he will see his surgeon, Marc Philippon, and have X-rays, perhaps during the All-Star break or on a western road trip.

During his rehabilitation, Rodriguez met Galea, who has close ties to chiropractor Mark Lindsay. Lindsay helped Philippon monitor A-Rod’s recovery.

Galea, who recently resigned as team doctor for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, became the focus of authorities’ attention last September when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was stopped at the U.S. border in Buffalo.

Galea was arrested in Canada last October on four charges relating to an unapproved substance used in healing therapy called Actovegin. He is known for using a technique, called platelet-rich plasma therapy, designed to speed recovery. He has used that to treat several high-profile athletes.

U.S. federal court documents say "20 vials and 76 ampoules of unknown misbranded drugs including Nutropin (Human Growth Hormone — HGH) and foreign homeopathic drugs" were found in a car Catalano was driving.

But Galea said Catalano could have had only a tiny, half-empty bottle — or one ampoule of HGH — because she was bringing the drug across the border for his use.

The 51-year-old Galea says he’s taken HGH, which is banned by the major sports, for a decade because it can improve the quality of life for people over 40.

Even if he’s cleared in the investigation, Rodriguez could be in violation of his record $275 million, 10-year contract because the Yankees have the right to approve doctors not on its medical staff.

If Rodriguez was treated without club consent, any attempt to determine whether he violated his contract or baseball’s collective bargaining agreement likely would hinge on whether treatment was elective or necessary.

General manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees’ "no comment still stands" while the federal investigation is proceeding.

Yanks catcher Cervelli to wear special helmet

TAMPA, Fla. — Francisco Cervelli is choosing safety over style.

The Yankees’ backup catcher will begin wearing a bulky batting helmet similar to one briefly worn last season by Mets star David Wright after he sustained a concussion.

Cervelli talked about the change before Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves was canceled because of rain.

Like Wright last summer, Cervelli was hit in the helmet by a 94 mph pitch that gave him a concussion — Cervelli’s second since November. Cervelli was injured Saturday and was cleared by a neurologist Monday. He is scheduled to play his first game Friday, when the Yankees travel to Viera to face the Washington Nationals.

"It’s ugly," Cervelli said, holding the helmet that has about an extra half-inch of padding. "It’s not about how it looks, I’ve got to take care of myself."

He said Jorge Posada called him The Great Gazoo, the sharp-tongued martian with a huge green helmet on "The Flintstones."

Cervelli had said since he was knocked down that he would not wear the helmet but changed his mind when manager Joe Girardi suggested he try it.

"I think he’ll try it and be OK with it," Girardi said. "I can’t tell my players what helmet to use."

Said Cervelli: "They worry about everything. I have to stay healthy."

Minor leaguers are required the Rawlings S100 helmets this year. The change comes after several players missed time last season with concussions.

Wright wore the helmet for two games after coming off the disabled list, but quickly ditched it for his old one, saying it wasn’t comfortable.

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is not a fan of the helmets.

"I think it’s a deterrent to trying to hit and run," Cox said. "It’s too big, bulky and cumbersome."

However, Cox, who still thinks helmets shouldn’t be worn on the basepaths, understands why someone would wear the new model to protect against injury.

Cervelli tried it during batting practice Thursday and said it was heavier but he will adjust to it. He said he probably will switch to the standard helmet when he reaches first base and he will not wear it behind the plate.

"I’ve got to see how it feels in the game," he said. "This year I think I’m going to wear it the whole season."

Cervelli has been hit in the head while catching about 10 times and last sustained a concussion in November while in the Venezuelan winter league.

NOTES: Atlanta RHP Jair Jurrjens, scheduled to start Thursday, now will make his first spring start on Friday. Sideline by a sore shoulder, he will pitch the first two innings. Friday’s scheduled starter Tommy Hanson will follow with four innings of work. ... New York’s A.J. Burnett threw a three-inning simulated game in the cages after the rain washed out his start. Andy Pettitte still is set to start Friday. ... Yankees SS Derek Jeter was scratched because of flulike symptoms. Coach Tony Pena just returned after having the flu. ... Cox said Braves starter Derek Lowe, who popped a blister on his right big toe Wednesday, will try to throw a bullpen session Friday.

-- Howie Rumberg

White Sox looking to keep ace Buehrle well rested

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle won’t have his second start of spring training until next Monday as the club seeks to keep him rested before the regular season begins.

Buehrle made his first start on March 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts over two innings.

Jake Peavy starts Friday against the Los Angeles Angels in a split-squad game. Gavin Floyd and John Danks, the next two pitchers in the White Sox projected rotation, get the call Saturday and Sunday against Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

Closer Bobby Jenks is also scheduled to pitch on the same day as Buehrle.

K.C. sends Moustakas, 6 others to minor league camp

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Third baseman Mike Moustakas, the second overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, was among seven players reassigned to minor league camp Thursday by the Kansas City Royals.

Also sent down were outfielder David Lough, who hit .325 last season and was the Royals’ 2009 minor league player of the year, and left-hander Danny Duffy, who pitched in the Futures Game and was 9-3 with a 2.98 ERA with Class A Wilmington.

Other players sent to the minor league camp were outfielder David Robinson, first baseman Ernest Mejia, infielder Mario Lisson and catcher Steve Lerud.

All seven players were non-roster invitees. The Royals have 58 players left in camp.

Rays make first spring cuts

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned left-handed pitcher Jake McGee to the minor leagues and reassigned shortstop Tim Beckham and catcher Nevin Ashley to minor league spring training camp.

The team announced the moves after Thursday’s 4-1 split-squad victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays did not say which affiliate McGee will be assigned to.