NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguezs already strained relationship with the New York Yankees hit another low on Thursday when he pushed to be activated from the disabled list, the team refused and he had a lawyer join the discussion of his injury rehabilitation. Already a target of Major League Baseballs drug investigation, the third baseman angered the Yankees when he obtained a second medical opinion on his strained left quadriceps this week without informing the team in writing, a step required by the sports collective bargaining agreement. The Yankees intend to discipline him, most likely with a fine. "Do you trust the Yankees?" Rodriguez was asked during an interview on WFAN radio. He responded: "Id rather not get into that. Im just frustrated that Im not on the field tomorrow." Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez issued a statement early Thursday saying he wanted to be activated for Fridays home game against Tampa Bay. "The Yanks and I crossed signals," the three-time AL MVP said in the statement. "I dont want any more mix-ups. Im excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and Im ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, lets play." But that wasnt in the Yankees plans. "Hell continue tomorrow with some light conditioning, and then expand to more functional work from the 27th through the 31st," general manager Brian Cashman said. "Our hope, as well as Alexs hope, without any setbacks or new complaints, that would put him in a situation to have either a simulated game or a rehab game on Aug. 1." A-Rod was upset with the delay. "Im very, very disappointed," he said. "I know I can help my team. Im frustrated but I agreed to this five-day plan, and on we go." Whether he gets back on a big league field any time soon or ever plays for the Yankees again remains to be seen. MLB has been investigating Rodriguez as part of its probe of the closed Biogenesis clinic in Florida , accused in media reports of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. A suspension appears likely, but Rodriguez could ask the players association to contest a drug penalty -- making it possible he might not have to serve any time until next year. He is among the dozen or so players under investigation by MLB; he has said in the past that he used PEDs from 2001-03 while with Texas but maintained he has not used them since. Rodriguez independently sought out a second opinion on his thigh strain, consulting Dr. Michael Gross, the orthopedic director of The Sports Medicine Institute at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Gross said on Wednesday that he examined an MRI and could not detect an injury. Gross, who never examined Rodriguez personally, was reprimanded this year by New Jerseys board of medical examiners over steroid prescriptions, fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs. Rodriguez was re-examined Thursday by Dr. Daniel Murphy, the Yankees orthopedic surgeon, who confirmed the initial diagnosis. Cashman said Murphy determined there was "clearly some improvement." Yankees president Randy Levine and Cashman had a conference call with Tim Lentych, the head athletic trainer at the player development complex in Tampa; Rodriguez; and Jordan Siev, co-head of the U.S. commercial litigation group at Reed Smith. Rodriguez is baseballs highest-paid player with a $28 million salary this year and is owed $86 million more in the next four seasons. He sounded like a man who anticipated having to fight for his money. "Just want to make sure that everything is documented properly," he said. Rodriguez has hit a mediocre .250 (8 for 40) with two homers and eight RBIs in 13 minor league games. About a week before he began the injury rehab assignment on July 2, Rodriguez tweeted that the surgeon who operated on his hip "gave me the best news - the green light to play games again!" Cashman responded: "Alex should just shut the ... up." ------ Associated Press Writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report. NHL Jerseys . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Authentic NHL Jerseys . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. NHL Jerseys China . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. To say that Bob Baffert was confident that American Freedom would win the Iowa Derby on Friday night at Prairie Meadows would be an understatement, and American Freedom backed up his trainers belief, as well as all the money bet on him to win, scoring a dominant 4 3/4-length victory over Texas Chrome as the 3-10 favorite.American Freedom won for the third time in four races while putting to rest any notion that he needed a wet track to show his best. Sandwiched between wins in his debut over a sloppy Churchill Downs track and the Sir Barton Stakes in Pimlico mud was a sixth-place, fast-track finish in the Pat Day Mile. Baffert said this week that American Freedom just didnt show up in the Pat Day Mile and that his off-track success was mere coincidence. And he was right.American Freedom and jockey Rafael Bejarano were prepared to settle into a comfortable pressing trip into the first turn of the Grade 3, $250,000 Iowa Derby when the rail-drawn Lookin for a Kiss got rank and started lugging out. With Lookin for a Kiss more intent on battling his rider than his pace rival, Bejarano decided turning onto the backstretch that hed seen enough and let American Freedom go to the front.dddddddddddd.American Freedom went a half-mile in a manageable 47.75 seconds, with Lookin for a Kiss hemmed down to his inside, was challenged around the far turn by Texas Chrome, but disposed of that foe in upper stretch and drew away in the final furlong as much the best. He ran 1-1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.62 and paid just $2.60 to win.Texas Chrome finished four lengths in front of Hint of Roses, who was followed across the line by Lookin for a Kiss, Catfish Creek, and Colonel Dan. Synchrony and The Rouge Diesel were scratched.Ive been working this horse a lot of times, and hes been working good every time, Bejarano said. He was ready for this race. I felt confident in the stretch.American Freedom, owned by Gary and Mary West, was purchased for $500,000 as a yearling at Keeneland. Hes by Pulpit and is out of the Pleasant Tap mare Gotcha Last. Baffert said this week that if American Freedom ran to expectations Friday, he probably would be pointed to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park or the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. ' ' '