American League Capsules: Alex Rodriguez ‘at ease' with Canadian doctor

TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said Tuesday he is at ease with his ties to a Canadian sports doctor embroiled in cross-border investigations involving HGH and another drug, though he still hasn’t talked to federal authorities about the case.

Speaking a day after Dr. Anthony Galea told The Associated Press he treated Rodriguez last year and prescribed anti-inflammatories but never gave him or any other athlete HGH, the three-time MVP said he still doesn’t know when he will be interviewed by federal agents.

"I’m at ease no matter what," Rodriguez said when asked how he felt about Galea’s comments.

Rodriguez sat in front of his locker at New York’s spring training complex Tuesday and spoke to reporters for about 3½ minutes about the situation. He seemed calm and even laughed at times.

"I got nothing new to report," he said several times.

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 from injuries. He has used that to treat several high-profile athletes.

Rodriguez said he feels "no pressure, not at all," even after Galea spoke about their relationship.

Rodriguez and other baseball players, including Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, have been contacted by U.S. federal investigators regarding Galea. The Denver Post reported Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street said he was on a list of players federal investigators wanted to interview. Reyes and Beltran each said they did not receive Human Growth Hormone from Galea.

The Yankees third baseman said he didn’t know where his interview would take place.

"I’m not sure. Maybe here. I don’t know. I’m not sure," Rodriguez said. "I’m not sure where Reyes and Beltran did it. I’m not sure."

When asked if he is choosing not to talk or has been told not to speak, Rodriguez laughed and said he "thinks the latter."

This had been a relatively quiet spring for Rodriguez compared to last year, when he admitted during an awkward news conference that he used steroids from 2001-03.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said the team would talk to Rodriguez after federal agents do.

"We didn’t know Alex was seeing this doctor, and we’ve been told he’s going to cooperate with the authorities in full, and he’s going to answer some questions for them," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said after a news conference in New York. "And until that’s done, there’s just nothing to add."

Galea, who recently resigned as the 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, N.Y.

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 only could have had a tiny, half-empty bottle or one ampoule of HGH because she was bringing the drug across the border for his own use. An ampoule is a small sealed vial which is used to contain and preserve a sample.

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.

Galea was arrested Oct. 15 after a search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto. He is charged with selling Actovegin, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada.

Rodriguez had hip surgery a year ago and Galea said he aided with the star’s rehab. Dr. Marc Philippon performed the surgery, and chiropractor Mark Lindsay — who has a history of close ties to Galea — helped monitor Rodriguez’s recovery.

Even if he’s cleared in the investigation, Rodriguez could be in violation of his record $275 million, 10-year contract because a team has the right to approve doctors that aren’t on its medical staff.

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

Steinbrenner says no extensions for Jeter, Rivera

NEW YORK — Hal Steinbrenner says the New York Yankees won’t alter their policy against contract extensions and will deal with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi after the season.

"Everybody does business in a different way," the team’s managing general partner said Tuesday following a news conference to announce details of the first Pinstripe Bowl at new Yankee Stadium, "I just don’t believe in contract extensions, and that’s throughout the organization, no matter who it is. Hopefully nobody takes that personally. It’s just business."

Jeter’s $189 million, 10-year contract expires after the World Series, as does Rivera’s $45 million, three-year deal. Girardi is entering the final season of a $7.8 million, three-year contract.

"I’ve got a great relationship with them all," Steinbrenner said. "I’ve expressed to all of them that, ‘You’re part of the Yankee family and you’re wanted. It wouldn’t be the same without you.’ But as far as no extensions, it’s a business policy of mine."

Coming off New York’s first World Series title since 2000, the Yankees have sold about 35,000 full-season ticket equivalents, according to chief operating officer Lonn Trost. The Yankees were between 33,000 and 34,000 at this point last year and finished at between 37,000 and 38,000 in the first season of their $1.5 billion ballpark, Trost said.

The Yankees have sold 3 million tickets for this season and have not put individual game seats on sale yet.

New York did have trouble selling some its most expensive seats last year, which were behind home plate and prominent on television cameras. After the first homestand, the Yankees slashed prices on more than 40 percent of front-row seats by up to 50 percent. The team gave free additional tickets to many fans who bought seats closest to the field for $325-$2,500 per game.

For 2010, the Yankees reclassified 538 Legends Suite seats, denying those ticket holders access to the duplex restaurant behind home plate, leaving 1,357 seats in the highest premium category. The Yankees cut prices on many remaining tickets by up to $1,250.

"We think we made the right changes," Steinbrenner said. "I’m glad that we looked into it, and I’m glad we looked into it in a methodical way, didn’t rush into anything."

Across the street at old Yankee Stadium, the bleachers have been demolished along with part of the upper deck behind third base and in left field.

"A lot of people come up to me, and they’re surprised it’s still up," Steinbrenner said. "But it’s a big building and it takes a while. I think there’s going to be some emotion when it starts coming down."

--Ronald Blum

Twins closer Nathan has ligament tear in elbow

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins suddenly have a glaring concern about closing games for the first time since Joe Nathan took over in 2004.

Tests on Nathan’s right throwing elbow have revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nathan’s 246 saves over six seasons are the most in the majors during that span.

The Twins shared the grim news on Tuesday in Fort Myers, Fla., before their exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. General manager Bill Smith said the plan is to first give Nathan time to let soreness and swelling subside, and build strength in the muscles around the joint, before a final decision about surgery.

In the meantime, a second opinion will be sought from Dr. James Andrews, the noted surgeon who removed bone spurs and chips from the elbow in October. The ulnar collateral ligament is replaced in the Tommy John procedure, which typically takes 12 to 18 months to recover from.

Nathan will try to pitch again in two weeks. If he can’t, the four-time All-Star will have surgery. His season then would almost certainly be over, perhaps putting his status for next year in question, too.

An emotional Nathan said he’s prepared to try to pitch through pain.

"If I’m able to go out there and throw, then I’ll definitely give it a shot," Nathan told reporters in Fort Myers. "The only reason that I would get a surgery done is if I’m just unable to go out there."

It is possible to pitch through the injury.

"I could be one of those guys. I might not be," Nathan said.

But if his elbow hurts like it did on Saturday, when he first felt discomfort and was removed from an exhibition game against Boston?

"Then there’s just no chance," Nathan said.

Nathan and the Twins initially believed this weekend he was just dealing with general stiffness and soreness. He flew to Minnesota to meet with team physician Dr. Dan Buss on Monday.

The decision won’t be delayed too long.

"They’ve got to prepare for the season, too," Nathan said.

The 35-year-old Nathan signed a $47 million contract two years ago that guarantees him $11.25 million this season and next. The Twins have a $12.5 million option for 2012, with a $2 million buyout.

"Obviously this wasn’t the news I wanted to hear," Nathan said. "It definitely came as a bit of a surprise, but at the same time I’ve got to be patient right now and take this a step at a time. We’ll see how it feels in a week or two."

Nathan was 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA last year, with a career-high 47 saves. He was vulnerable down the stretch, surrendering four of his seven home runs in the final month of the regular season. He gave up a tying two-run shot to Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning of a Game 2 loss to the New York Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.

Losing Nathan for any amount of time would be a big blow to the Twins, who shored up their lineup and are built to celebrate the opening of their new ballpark, Target Field, with another trip to the playoffs.

"That’s going to be a huge drop for them," Chicago White Sox infielder Omar Vizquel said at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. "It’s not going to be easy to replace a guy like him. He pretty much guarantees a save every time."

Right-handers Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier are probably the top two candidates to replace Nathan, but Rauch is the only Twins reliever with even limited prior experience as a closer.

"Right now, until they tell us, ‘Joe’s not going to pitch,’ he’s our closer," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We’ll go from there, but we have to start looking in other directions and start the process. This kind of all of a sudden came up, and it is what it is. No one’s going to cry for us. We just have to kind of make our way through it."

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remembered one comeback by his team against Nathan, last summer.

"Besides that, I don’t remember if we even scared the guy. He’s so good against us," Guillen said. "I’d rather face anybody out there, no matter what kind of pitcher they are, than face Nathan."

--Dave Campbell

Chad Cordero trying to make comeback with M’s

PEORIA, Ariz — When Chad Cordero stands among a group of 20-something Seattle Mariners relievers, he looks like just another promising pitcher.

Just three years ago, Cordero was taking the ball in the ninth inning for the Washington Nationals, one of the best closers in the major leagues. Then he felt something in his right shoulder.

"All those years in D.C., I was feeling so good then all of a sudden it all comes crumbling down," Cordero said. "It was definitely something I can learn from. Just go out there and work hard and never take this game for granted. This game is awesome and I never want to stop playing."

Cordero had a spectacular start to his career. In 2005, he saved a major-league high 47 games in his first full big-league season. At 23, he was the youngest pitcher in history with 40-plus saves.

He had 27 saves in 2006 and 37 in 2007, becoming the second youngest pitcher in history to reach the 100-save plateau, at age 25.

"When I saw him in ‘07, he had unbelievable stuff," said Levale Speigner, a Mariners relief hopeful who was a former Nationals teammate. "It was like he had a disappearing fastball. He had incredible control over it. He didn’t have overpowering stuff but he put it right on the ... corner and guys swung and missed it."

His right shoulder hurt at the start the 2008 season. He went on the DL twice and was have a torn side muscle, torn labrum and torn biceps. He had season-ending shoulder surgery on July 8, 2008. For all he knew, it could have been career-ending surgery.

"It’s one of the worst injuries you can have as a pitcher. So (2009) was definitely a struggle," he said. "It wasn’t a lot of fun. There were times when I thought there was a chance I might never throw a pitch in the majors again.

"It was something I held inside my head. I wasn’t going to tell anybody that. I didn’t want to get them worried at all. When you have these kinds of injuries you have in the back of your head that you don’t know what’s going to happen."

The Nationals released him after the 2008 season and no one took a chance on a 26-year-old with 128 career saves and an uncertain shoulder. He rehabbed on his own all winter at his home in Huntington Beach, Calif.

After a workout with the Mariners at this time a year ago, he was offered and accepted a minor league contract on March 12, 2009.

"It used to be a few years ago that when guys had a surgery on their shoulder, they couldn’t come back. Fortunately, the surgery has gotten a lot better," he said. "Chances of making a full recovery are a lot better. But just knowing that some guys never recovered from this, it’s a tough thing to deal with."

In his effort to get back his form and prove himself again, he had some setbacks last season. He threw just 14 1-3 innings for a pair of low level teams. He is a camp invite this spring and believes he’s ready to contribute again.

In his first outing last Friday, Cordero allowed an opening single then retired the next three batters.

He knows he may not stick with the big club right away, and is mentally prepared to pitch in the minors for a while. But he can still imagine his return to a major league ballgame.

"It’ll definitely be exciting to be back up there again but once I get on the mound it’ll be like I never left," Cordero said. "I’ll be really excited, like a little kid again."

NOTES: LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith had his first spring outing against the White Sox at Glendale. He went two innings, allowing three hits and one run. "Everything felt good. I was working quick. I was happy with my tempo. I think there was only one or two 2-ball counts. I was real happy with that," he said. ... CF Franklin Gutierrez, who has had a sore right shoulder, made his first appearance this spring. He went 0-2 with a deep sacrifice fly to center in the seventh against the White Sox.

Youthful Omar Vizquel will play as long as he can

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Omar Vizquel strutted into Scottsdale Stadium from the center-field entrance like a confident 20-something and gave a little point to some former San Francisco teammates. He may as well still be in his baseball prime.

Vizquel insists he feels that good physically, and mentally he still considers himself among the best shortstops in the game — even if he’s going on 43 and no longer a regular heading into his 22nd major league season.

"I think I already mastered just about everything in the field," said Vizquel, now more of a utility infielder. "Hitting is the hardest thing for me."

The 11-time Gold Glove winner was in the lineup at shortstop and batting second against the Giants on Tuesday after not playing in Chicago’s previous two games. Last season with the Rangers, Vizquel played 27 games at shortstop, 20 at third and 16 at second.

"I thought last year I had a good year," he said.

They still love the good-natured Vizquel in Cleveland and San Francisco. Texas, too.

"It’s always great to see Omar," said Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who benefited from Vizquel’s sure-handed defense in earning his first NL Cy Young Award in 2008.

His energy and enthusiasm — not to mention his pure baseball talent — is infectious and rubs off on others around him. His gift with people and the glove is a big reason why he wants to manage once his playing days are done. But he doesn’t want to toil in the minor leagues first, often the path to becoming a big-league skipper.

"I don’t want to do that," he said with a smile. "Maybe I can get a coach job in the big leagues."

Vizquel has been getting his start on the teaching side the past two seasons, helping groom young players. White Sox manager and Venezuelan countryman Ozzie Guillen is counting on Vizquel’s help with shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

While Vizquel would love to add 3,000 hits to his long list of accomplishments that likely will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he knows that’s a longshot.

He has 2,704 hits entering the 2010 season, fourth-most by any active player — behind Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter and Ivan Rodriguez. Vizquel is a career .273 hitter with 78 home runs, 906 RBIs, 74 triples and 433 doubles.

"I would have to play three more years and that would be really hard," he said of reaching 3,000 hits.

He already is spending much more time in the gym than he used to, something he considers a necessity now if he wants to keep up with many teammates and opponents half his age.

"The gym is really my food, my life," he said. "I can’t go through a whole season without taking care of my body. There’s so much competition. If you want to compete, you have to stay strong, quick and agile."

-- Janie McCauley

Toronto’s McGowan pitches in simulated game

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan is feeling good this spring as he tries to make it back from shoulder surgery.

McGowan threw 30 pitches during a simulated game at Toronto’s minor league complex while the rest of the team had the day off.

"Absolutely. I think that’s the biggest one, the next two days, to see how I feel," McGowan said after throwing the equivalent of two innings at the Blue Jays’ minor-league complex while the rest of the team had the day off.

McGowan hasn’t appeared in a major league game since July 8, 2008. He had season-ending surgery three weeks later to repair a frayed labrum and a series of setbacks sidelined him last season.

"Stuff-wise, it was good," said McGowan. "I think I got a little tired in that second inning, tried to do too much. But it’s to be expected the first time. I was pumped about it."

If McGowan feels no soreness Wednesday or Thursday, the plan is for him to throw one more simulated game, most likely Sunday or Monday. He then could appear in a spring game in mid-March.

"He looked great," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "Free and easy command, the slider looked really sharp. Now it’s just a question of how he bounces back, (but) we’re not going to try to accelerate anything. Well be more conservative than anything."

Still, he said he’s not ruling out the possibility that McGowan could begin the season on the roster, and even be the fifth starter in the rotation, particularly since the schedule will allow them to go with just four in the first week.

"Certainly if he can go every five days, there’s no question he would be on the roster one way or the other," Anthopoulos said. "We’ve talked about it. It’s too early to tell. We’re just not sure yet. That’s why we really need to take it each outing at a time and continue to evaluate him. We’re not sure what the role would be. We have to see how deep he can get into games."

There also is the chance McGowan could start the season on the disabled list. Sending him to the minors is very unlikely since he is out of options and would have to pass through waivers, meaning another team could claim him.

"We’ve told him that the Opening Day date (April 5 at Texas) is not something that we’ve targeted specifically," Anthopoulos said. "It’s more of when his arm is ready to go. If we need to start him on the DL we would do that, continue to rehab him down here (in Florida) and hopefully he’d be back sooner rather than later."

NOTES: The Blue Jays sent non-roster RHPs Chad Jenkins and Zach Stewart to the minor league camp for reassignment. ... Toronto rookie Lance Broadway will start Wednesday against the Phillies. Fellow rookie RHP Kyle Drabek, son of 13-year veteran pitcher Doug Drabek, also is expected to face the Phillies, who traded him to the Blue Jays as part of the Roy Halladay deal.

Orioles’ Roberts feeling ill

SARASOTA, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was feeling ill Tuesday, hampering his rehabilitation for a back injury.

Roberts, who led the American League with 56 doubles last season, has yet to play this spring. To speed his recuperation from the back injury, Orioles medical personnel gave him some medication on Sunday. On Monday night, he reported feeling ill.

Manager Dave Trembley said Roberts has a virus and the leadoff hitter would not be able to resume baseball activities until at least Thursday.

The Orioles begin the season at Tampa Bay on April 6, and Trembley said he thinks Roberts will be ready as long as he gets at least 25 at-bats this spring.

"I’m still confident we can get him that," Trembley said. "I’d still like to see him out on the field, but can’t get out on the field now that he’s sick."

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail conferred with trainer Richie Bancells, and said the trainer assured him Roberts should be ready in four weeks.

"But, you have to be concerned now," MacPhail said. "You get 10 games into spring training before you really start paying attention. The clock is starting to be an issue. It’s getting to be on my radar screen."

Roberts has spent his entire career with Baltimore, batting .284 with 77 homers and 443 RBIs in nine seasons. He is entering the first season of a $40 million, four-year contract extension he signed in February 2009.

Baltimore also renewed the contract of All-Star center fielder Adam Jones for $465,000 on Tuesday. Jones, beginning his third season with the Orioles, said he was not upset about the move.

"There’s no bad blood between the sides," Jones said. "Sign and play out this year."

Jones made the All-Star team for the first time last year. He batted .277 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs despite missing the final month of the season with a sprained left ankle.

Jones said Baltimore has yet to approach him to negotiate a long-term deal.

"If they would like me to be here a long time, I would love to be here for a long time," Jones said.

MacPhail said that he would wait until Jones has completed this season before contemplating a multiyear contract.

"With Adam, the issue is going to be durability, staying on the field — seeing what kind of year he has," MacPhail said. "By virtue of being an All-Star and a Gold Glover, he’s certainly shown parts of it to us."

Hank Blalock agrees to minor league deal with Rays

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Hank Blalock will get an opportunity to rekindle his career with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The two-time All-Star agreed to a minor league contract and reported to spring training on Tuesday.

Blalock hit .234 with 25 homers and 66 RBIs in 123 games for the Texas Rangers last year. He missed much of the previous two seasons with injuries and is a .269 career hitter with 152 homers and 535 RBIs.

Tampa Bay thinks the 29-year-old infielder could provide an additional left-handed hitting option and bolster the club’s depth at first and third.

"We’re excited to add Hank to the mix. He’s got tremendous power, and a guy we feel has a lot of upside," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in Sarasota, where Tampa Bay was playing an exhibition against the Baltimore Orioles.

"We’re anxious to get him started and see what we’ve got and put him in a position to compete for a job."

Blalock spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Rangers. He was an All-Star in 2003 and 2004.

"He looks like he’s in great shape," Rays manager Joe Maddon said before the Orioles-Rays game.

Maddon conceded it may be difficult for Blalock to play his way onto the 25-man roster by early April, when the regular season begins.

"But things change. He could come out and do a really good job or he could look really good and all of a sudden he’s going to make us think differently," the manager said. "Somebody could get hurt. Obviously that enhances his chances. All those things are possible."

Blalock’s contract includes an option that would allow him to opt out and seek a job with another team if he doesn’t wind up on the 25-man roster.

"I’m much more focused on the player and how it may potentially impact us," Friedman said. "But what I will say is at the end of spring if there is not a 25-man spot for him, and there is somewhere else, we’re not going to stand in the way."

Royals’ C Kendall back with team

SURPISE, Ariz. — Royals catcher Jason Kendall has returned to spring training and says his divorce and child custody case won’t be a distraction.

Kendall missed the exhibition game Monday against Cincinnati to be in court in Los Angeles. He returned on Tuesday and told reporters he will not "dignify the ridiculous accusations" being carried by various media outlets about his divorce.

He says he wants his personal life to remain private. Kendall, a three-time All Star, brushed off any thought the divorce would affect his play, saying "Not at all."

Kendall signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Royals in December. The 14-year veteran played the last two seasons in Milwaukee.

Yankees executive charged with DUI in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — A top New York Yankees executive was charged with driving under the influence in Tampa.

Hillsborough County Jail reports show that Mark Newman, the Yankees’ senior vice president of baseball operations, was arrested Monday night. He reportedly refused to take a blood-alcohol test. He was released several hours later on $500 bail.

The Yankees released a statement Tuesday night saying the team is taking the situation seriously and is looking into the matter.

Newman did not respond to a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press.

Jail records did not list an attorney.