TRENTON — At a news conference after a minor league rehabilitation game Friday night, Alex Rodriguez was peppered with questions about allegations that he was involved with Biogenesis, a now-defunct South Florida clinic accused of issuing performance-enhancing drugs.
Rodriguez had hit a home run for the Yankees' Class AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. But with a possible suspension from Major League Baseball looming, the questions were focused on other matters.
"There are a lot of people that are confused, a lot of people that don't understand the process," Rodriguez said. "There is a lot of layers. I will say this: there's more than one party that benefits from me not ever stepping back on the field. That's not my teammates, and it's not the Yankee fans."
Asked whom he meant, he replied: "I can't tell you that right now. And I hope I never have to."
There has been plenty of speculation that the Yankees front office would not mind if Rodriguez were suspended rather than return to the team. Rodriguez's contract is considered an albatross, among the worst in baseball.
Rodriguez had come to Trenton to play in two rehabilitation games, on Friday and Saturday, before possibly rejoining the Yankees on Monday for a series against the White Sox in Chicago. That, Rodriguez said Friday night, was the plan he had discussed with the Yankees.
A suspension for Rodriguez could come Sunday, or Monday at the latest, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the situation who was not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.
Baseball officials have threatened to issue Rodriguez a lifetime ban, but they are hoping that before Monday he will agree to accept a lesser suspension that would last through the 2014 season. Negotiations between baseball officials and Rodriguez's representatives in the players union seemed to slow Friday.
That was the backdrop as fans lined up outside Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton. Rodriguez took batting practice, ran the bases, long-tossed and fielded grounders. His injured hip and quadriceps did not seem bothersome.
Len Grzywacz, an usher, watched Rodriguez from a walkway in the stands. He thought Rodriguez looked fine, like his old self.
"This could be it," Grzywacz said. "You'll want to save these ticket stubs."
Once inside, fans snapped photos of the whiteboard showing the lineup. There he was, Rodriguez, Alex, wearing No. 13, playing third base, batting second. A crowd huddled around the Thunder dugout, in some places four people deep, and waited.
Rodriguez finally emerged, about a half-hour before the first pitch. One woman shrieked as if he were a Beatle. Others clambered over seats to get a better look or take a picture. Near the back, two men held high a makeshift sign that read, "Cheater."
As he signed autographs, Rodriguez disappeared in a swarm of cameras that moved as he moved.
About 150 media members had credentials for the game, and the concourse was already crowded. The park was sold out, and the Thunder sold standing-room-only tickets. There was an even smattering of cheers and boos when Rodriguez was introduced, but there were clearly more boos when he came to bat for the first time. He chatted with the fans in the front rows and then drew a five-pitch walk.
He came up again in the third inning, swung effortlessly and crushed a 2-0 pitch into the night. Rodriguez watched as the ball sailed over the 32-foot-high wall in left field, trotted around the bases, pointed to the crowd and managed to smile.
In his third plate appearance, in the fifth inning, he struck out. The plan was for him to play five innings and get three at-bats, so after that, he left the game. Then about 20 television cameras and 70 reporters squeezed into a room for his news conference.
Rodriguez was asked what he would say to young boys who idolize him.
"That I love the game," Rodriguez said. "And this game has been very good to me, for a long time. That's all I've ever done: I love the game, appreciate the game."
He said that he felt good and that he wished he were in San Diego, playing with his Yankees teammates. He said he wanted to play another five years. He said it was his understanding that the plan was for him to play seven innings with the Thunder on Saturday, to complete a short workout Sunday and then to play Monday in Chicago.
He said he was confident he would do so.
"Unless I get hit by lightning," he said, smiling, "and these days, you never know."
David Waldstein contributed reporting from San Diego.
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