TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez will attempt to play this season with an injured right hip, hoping to avoid surgery and a four-month rehabilitation period.

A cyst in the hip was drained Wednesday, and the New York Yankees third baseman will skip playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Still, he has a torn labrum that might need an operation.

"There's two course of action concerning what he has," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday. "There is treat it conservatively, which would imply rest, exercise and treatment. Or you can treat it aggressively, which is by surgery. At this point in time, we are going to go the conservative route."

The diagnosis by Dr. Marc Philippon, in Vail, Colo., was yet another jolt to Rodriguez during a tumult-filled one-month span in which the three-time AL MVP admitted using banned drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas.

Earlier yesterday, ESPNdeportes.com reported that Rodriguez's brother, Joe Dunand, said the slugger was going to have surgery, with a projected 10-week recovery time.

"If at some point it's not working and it's a problem, then the other one becomes more of a choice," Cashman said. "Right now, the route we're going is conservative."

Cashman said Rodriguez's preference was to try rest and treatment first, but that offseason surgery might be an option.

"We're collectively trying to figure out what is best to do for everybody involved," Cashman said. "We don't want to rush into it. We want to digest it."

Cashman said the team hopes the cyst was the cause of stiffness that had bothered the 12-time All-Star and caused him to see a specialist. Rodriguez was to undergo additional tests in Colorado today.

If Rodriguez is sidelined, New York would have to replace its third baseman and cleanup hitter, behind new first baseman Mark Teixeira.

"That's going to hurt not only this team, but the Yankees," said Robinson Cano, Rodriguez's teammate on both his club and national team. "He's a guy we're going to miss."

The Yankees got some good news yesterday when closer Mariano Rivera threw off a mound for the first time since offseason shoulder surgery, and said he expects to be ready for opening day.

Rivera, who had surgery Oct. 7 on the AC joint in his right shoulder, threw 15 pitches halfway up the mound and 15 more from the rubber at 85-90 percent power.

DODGERS

MANNY'S BACK IN L.A.

PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez clambered up the stairs to a rooftop patio jammed with reporters, team employees and television cameras.

"Why such a big deal?" he said with a grin. "I played here before."

One day after agreeing to a $45 million, two-year contract, baseball's slugging clown prince arrived at the Dodgers' spring training headquarters yesterday morning. With the club's new Camelback Ranch ballpark providing a backdrop, Ramirez declared that he was looking forward to his first full season in Los Angeles.

Ramirez needed no introduction after leading the Dodgers to the 2008 NL West title by hitting .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he batted .520 with four homers, 10 RBIs, nine runs and 11 walks in eight games.

"I'm baaaaack!" he said.

Well, not just yet. Asked when he might make his first spring training appearance, Ramirez replied, "I'm going to take it slow. ... I've got to get my Gold Glove ready, I'm pretty sure, you know that. I've got to save my cannon for the season."

SHORT HOPS

Cardinals: Left-hander Dennys Reyes and St. Louis agreed to a $3 million, two-year contract yesterday. The 31-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Minnesota Twins and was 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in a career-high 75 games last season.

Giants: San Francisco released veteran outfielder Dave Roberts yesterday, a surprise move that could cost it $6.5 million this season. The 36-year-old Roberts signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Giants in 2007, but played only 166 games in his first two seasons because of injuries.

Nationals: Right-hander Shawn Hill, who made two trips to the disabled list last year before season-ending elbow surgery Sept. 5, was scratched from his scheduled start against the Detroit Tigers yesterday because of right forearm tightness.

Rockies: Colorado setup man Taylor Buchholz will miss at least a month with a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow. An MRI exam Wednesday revealed the problem. No surgery is scheduled, the team said. The right-hander had a 2.17 ERA last year, sixth-lowest in the NL.

Alou nears end: Outfielder Moises Alou says he'll likely turn down offers he has received to play this season, including one from the Philadelphia Phillies, and end his 18-year career after playing with the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.