YANKEES PRESIDENT RANDY LEVINE TESTIFIES AT A-ROD HEARING

RANDY LEVINE

New York Yankees president Randy Levine testified before arbitrator Fredrick Horowitz at the Alex Rodriguez grievance hearing today.

Levine denied conspiring with MLB to run Alex Rodriguez out of the game.He also denied he would personally benefit financially if A-Rod's 211 game suspension is upheld.

Rodriguez and Levine exchanged greetings from a distance.They did not shake hands.

A source familiar with his testimony reported to ESPN that the testimony lasted 15 minutes."It was a very cordial exchange,neither side seemed hostile at all."

Under questioning by Joe Tacopina,Rodriguez's attorney,Levine denied a slew of charges made by the Rodriguez team.

Rodriguez has accused the Yankees of colluding with baseball and commissioner Bud Selig in an attempt to avoid paying Rodriguez the final 4 years of his contract.He is due to make a guaranteed $86 million plus performance bonuses that could add an additional $ 30 million to his contract.

According to the source (who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality agreement governing the proceeding as stipulated by baseball's collective bargaining agreement) Levine was asked: 1) If he had ever colluded with baseball to have Rodriguez permanently barred from the game. 2) If it were true,as per a published report,that Levine would receive a bonus from the Yankees if Rodriguez was suspended,resulting in the club not having to pay his $ 25 million salary for next year. 3) If he had ever told Dr.Bryan Kelly,Rodriguez's hip surgeon,"I don't ever want to see him on the field again." 4) If the Yankees had ever sent investigators to interview Rodriguez's cousin,Yuri Sucart who the slugger had named as his drug supplier when he admitted having used steroids back in 2009.

Levine's answer to all questions was "no".

Levine was also asked how many times he had discussed the case with commissioner Selig and Rob Manfred,baseball's chief operating officer.

Levine answered that he had spoken to Selig twice and Manfred three times."But only in general terms,never about penalties". 

Rodriguez left the hearing without speaking to reporters. His attorney said his silence was due to a renewed request by Fredric Horowitz for silence and confidentiality from the involved parties."Confidentiality is something they really want to clamp down on,both sides really need to start honoring that.It has to start with me.I can't say anything" said Tacopina.

A-Rod's group of supporters,who were noticeably absent on Monday,returned around 3:30 ET.They shouted and waved signs that included the caption,"Randy Levine is the devil".There were also the usual signs bashing commissioner Selig.

Levine joked when he seen the protesters,"I might have even made a donation".