( CNN ) -- Alex Rodriguez is taking his quest to get back on the diamond into his own hands . A representative for Rodriguez said he got a second opinion on a recent quadriceps injury , and the doctor who analyzed the MRI says Rodriguez is healthy enough to return to the field . Michael Gross of The Sports Medicine Institute at Hackensack University , who was hired by Rodriguez , says he does not see an injury . On Wednesday evening , Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said he heard through media reports that Gross had not examined Rodriguez and said it is the Yankees ' desire to have Rodriguez return to the lineup as soon as possible . In a written statement , Cashman said , `` As early as Friday , July 12 , when I suggested to Alex that we move his rehab from Tampa to Triple-A Scranton ( at Buffalo ) , Alex complained for the first time of 'tightness ' in his quad and therefore refused to consent to the transfer of his assignment . Again , last Sunday , Alex advised that he had stiffness in his quad and should not play on Sunday or Monday . We sent Alex to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI which evidenced a grade 1 strain . '' Cashman said the Yankees will re-evaluate Rodriguez in Tampa on Thursday . Rodriguez has said he hoped that after hip surgery in January he would be able to resume playing for the Yankees on July 22 , after he completed a rehabilitation stint in the minors . But the Yankees physician diagnosed a strained quadriceps this week based on an MRI . Rodriguez could be sidelined for at least a week and could be ordered to start a new 20-day rehabilitation . On Thursday , Rodriguez released a statement calling the back-and-forth `` crossed signals . '' `` I think the Yanks and I crossed signals . I do n't want any more mix ups . I 'm excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship , '' the statement said . `` I feel great and I 'm ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night . Enough doctors , let 's play . '' Rodriguez gave Gross permission to speak to the media . Gross said he ca n't be sure Rodriguez does n't have an injury but said he did n't see anything on the MRI . A source close to Rodriguez told CNN that Rodriguez believes the Yankees are trying to find a way to release him and not pay the $ 114 million they owe on his contract . Meanwhile , Rodriguez , who has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs , awaits word from Major League Baseball as to whether he will be suspended from the sport and , if so , for how long . Some media reports have said the punishment could be enough to end his career . Rodriguez turns 38 on Saturday and is still owed $ 28 million this year . He reported to the Yankees ' spring training facility in Tampa on Wednesday and , according to sources , he believes he is healthy enough to get back to work .
Alex Rodriguez hires someone who says he is healthy enough to play . Yankees manager says Rodriguez 's doctor shows A - 1 has a ` ` grade 1 strain '' Meanwhile , MLB may suspend play over the incident .