A-Rod draws more off-field scrutiny

Even when Alex Rodriguez is in Vail, Colo, recovering from hip labrum surgery, he manages to grab headlines.

The New York Yankees star third baseman is the cover story in Details Magazine this month, though the pictures accompanying the story and the timing of the interview are grabbing more attention than anything he said. In one eye-catching photo, Rodriguez is nearly lip-to-lip with himself in a full-length mirror.

One player in the Yankees' spring training clubhouse saw the photo on the cover of the New York Post and snickered at it with a couple of teammates. Copies of the paper made their way around the clubhouse.

The magazine's cover photo is benign, of A-Rod with black pants and tie wearing a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up and collar loose. The other pictures feature Rodriguez in workout clothes on a mattress and in front of a mirror in what looks like a garage or warehouse.

"What was he thinking?" mused one anonymous teammate.

Another wanted to know if Rodriguez realized he was being photographed and was surprised when told it was a professional photo shoot. Most just shook their heads or shrugged, with a couple saying you'd never see them in similar pictures. One Yankee said: "Don't worry; we'll be sure to make fun of him for it."

When shown the picture before Team USA's game in the World Baseball Classic, Derek Jeter appeared a little taken aback but said he had no comment, shaking his head and saying: "All sorts of articles coming out."

• DYKSTRA DISPUTES STORY -- A story in the April issue of GQ magazine paints a damning portrait of Lenny Dykstra, the former Philadelphia Phillies star turned businessman.

"Everything in there is a lie," Dykstra said.

The story, titled "You Think Your Job Sucks? Try Working for Lenny Dykstra," is written by Kevin Coughlin, a former photo editor for Dykstra's magazine, The Players Club. Coughlin attributes racist and homophobic remarks to Dykstra.

The article, released on GQ.com on Monday, portrays Dykstra's company as being in deep financial distress. It says there are nearly a dozen lawsuits pending against Dykstra.

"I'm not going down in the dirt with this guy," Dykstra said. "He's (ticked) off because he got fired. He was masquerading as a photo editor.

"I'm spending 400 grand a month trying to help. This is what I get for it? It's a sad thing. I don't get it. Why are people taking what he says to be the truth?"

Coughlin is now a photo editor at the New York Post.

• BREWERS -- Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee's closer and baseball's all-time saves leader, has been sidelined by a strain on his right side, and the timetable for his return is unclear, Brewers manager Ken Macha said.

Hoffman, 41, has missed one scheduled appearance this spring.

• PHILLIES -- Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels will return to camp after a team physician found no damage in his sore left elbow.

Hamels received an injection to relieve inflammation and should be cleared to throw by Thursday. His status for the April 5 opener against Atlanta is unclear.

• ROYALS -- Sidney Ponson signed a minor league contract with Kansas City and was invited to big league camp. He is expected to compete with Brian Bannister, Horacio Ramirez and Luke Hochevar for two open spots in the starting rotation.

• RED SOX -- Shortstop Julio Lugo underwent arthroscopic surgery in Boston on his right knee to repair torn meniscus cartilage. He is expected to be out three to four weeks.