Attorney says Alex Rodriguez all in to fight MLB allegations

The way things have gone for Alex Rodriguez these days, he doesn't even have to speak to draw attention to himself.

Instead, it was Rodriguez's attorney David Cornwell who did the talking Tuesday.

Cornwell, in an interview on WFAN with Mike Francesa, disputed some of the media reports circulating about Rodriguez and said the slugger is going to continue to fight MLB's allegations.

Rodriguez, who didn't speak to reporters Tuesday, has been at the center of the investigation into the now shuttered Biogenesis anti-aging clinic and is facing a 211-game suspension.

"We are challenging that there are multiple violations of the [Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment] Program," Cornwell told WFAN.

Cornwell also dismissed the contention that Rodriguez tried to strike a deal with MLB that would have reduced his suspension to 100 games and allowed him to keep the remainder of the money owed to him.

Rodriguez has four years left on his deal worth about $86 million.

Assuming a ruling is not made on his appeal this season and the punishment is upheld by the arbitrator, a 211-game suspension would keep him off the field for all of 2014, part of 2015 and cost him roughly $34 million in salary.

Rodriguez is appealing the suspension. His appeal will be heard by independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. No timetable has been given on when a ruling will be made.

Despite the looming suspension and the overall disappointment with the whole situation, Yankee officials have said that they need Rodriguez to help the team get back into playoff contention.

"Look, as I told him when I talked to him in Tampa, we need him. We do. That's just obvious," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner told the Daily News Tuesday. "We've still got our injuries and my hope is that he comes back and continues to improve and stay healthy. He has to perform, and he has to act professionally."

As for Rodriguez's relationship with the fans, it's been a love-hate scenario since his return.

A hit gets him raucous cheering, while an out usually earns a serenade of boos.

Nothing changed much on that front Tuesday night against the Angels. Rodriguez went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and two strikeouts as the designated hitter.

Rodriguez, who is hitting .259 with a home runs and four RBIs since his return, was booed after every out.

But he was cheered loudly after hitting a two-run double to leftfield in the bottom of the sixth inning that gave the Yankees an 8-3 lead.