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A-Rod Won't Be Joining Team, Heads Back To Tampa

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - The Yankees said Alex Rodriguez has a Grade 1 strain of his left quadriceps muscle and won't be able to return this week in Texas, as had planned.

Instead, Rodriguez will remain on the disabled list and return to Tampa, Fla., "for rest and treatment," the Yankees said in a statement issued before their game against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.

Rodriguez and manager Joe Girardi had said they were hoping he would return for Tuesday night's game against the Rangers. But he was sent to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI on Sunday, and team Dr. Christopher Ahmad diagnosed the injury.

Girardi told reporters at Fenway Park at about 5:50 p.m. that Rodriguez was likely to make his 2013 debut on Tuesday.

"I would be surprised if he played Monday. Tuesday's possible," he said.

But at 7:37 p.m. — about a half-hour before Sunday's game — the Yankees sent reporters an email saying the nearly 38-year-old three-time AL MVP "will not be joining the team for its series in Texas."

"I think we're all a little bit anxious to see how he looks physically and how he's moving," Girardi said before the results of the MRI were announced. "I've talked to people that have seen him and said he ran good yesterday. ... I am anxious to see. He hasn't played in a while and he's almost 38. You kind of want to see what you've got."

Sunday was the last day of A-Rod's 20-day rehab, the Yankees said he is "returned from rehab" but will not be reinstated to the Major League roster.

Rodriguez will be able remain on the disabled list but will not be allowed to play in minor league games.

The Yankees have the option to petition MLB for an additional rehab assignment.

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