Yankees on A-Rod: 'We take him at his word'

[February 10, 2009]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The New York Yankees hitched their fortunes to Alex Rodriguez with a $275 million, 10-year contract. Turns out, they were in for a huge disappointment: Baseball's biggest star is at the center of the steroids scandal.

Rodriguez admitted Monday that he used banned substances while playing for Texas from 2001-03 -- before he joined the Yankees. But now, everyone in pinstripes has been pulled into the story.

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was," the team said in a statement Monday night. "Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex -- like all of us -- is a human being not immune to fault."

Earlier in the day, Yankees captain Derek Jeter said he was "shocked" by a Sports Illustrated report last weekend that A-Rod had flunked a drug test. Jorge Posada said he was surprised to hear it, too.

"Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever. I'm going to support him any way I can," Posada said.

Now, many of the Yankees will be asked what they thought of Rodriguez's confession on ESPN, and whether it changes their feelings about him.

"We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity," the Yankees' statement read. "Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

Even before Rodriguez's confession, the Yankees were headed for a drama-filled spring training. There are sure to be plenty of questions about Joe Torre's book, which said teammates referred to Rodriguez as "A-Fraud," as well as Joba Chamberlain's drunken-driving arrest and the open job in center field.

Then there's all the pressure on Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. New York spent $423.5 million to sign those three free agents this winter after the club missed a postseason for the first time since 1993.

Posada and closer Mariano Rivera are coming off shoulder surgery. Chien-Ming Wang is returning from a foot injury that cost him the final 3 1/2 months of last season. Andy Pettitte could get another round of difficult questions -- in spring training 2008, he acknowledged using human growth hormone years before.

"At this point of the year, you wish you could finally be talking about baseball, but there hasn't been a baseball question yet," said Jeter, already working out at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla.

Torre, who managed the Yankees from 1996-2007 before taking over the Los Angeles Dodgers, said he never suspected Rodriguez was using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I had never really heard anything in connection to him. When you watch his work ethic, the time he puts in at batting practice and in the weight room, I had no reason to question him. He has the most ability of any player I've seen," Torre said through Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch. "It's going to be tough for him but I'm happy that he came out, faced the music and took responsibility for it."

Rodriguez said he used banned substances during his three years with Texas to justify his 10-year, $252 million contract. He was traded to the Yankees before the 2004 season and opted out of that deal following the 2007 campaign, when he won his third MVP award.

In a bizarre twist, the All-Star third baseman then re-signed with the Yankees for a record $275 million over 10 years.

"If you guys would ask questions about other people, we wouldn't be answering questions about Alex all the time," Jeter said. "It seems like it's been like that since he's gotten here."

Now this.

"It's not a good day for anybody -- the Yankees, A-Rod, baseball, the fans. It's just a bad day for everybody," Yankees Hall of Famer Goose Gossage said. "You're talking about the best player in the game, and now what does this mean?"

Even more questions for everyone in pinstripes.

"I've got to do everything I can to be ready for a season. I can't get too distracted," Posada said. "Every year we've got something. This is a little bit more on the plate, but we've just got to deal with it and get ready."

[Associated Press; By MIKE FITZPATRICK]

AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.

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