Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado - BFFsRyan Braun officially kicked off the great MLB PED Suspension Tour of 2013 with a season-ending 65 gamer on Tuesday afternoon. Which city will the tour stop in next?

Detroit? Oakland? New York? Texas?

Those last two are states — New York City and Arlington, I guess.

One of the biggest names on the Biogenesis client list is rehabbing Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. While much has been written and reported about A-Rod’s character, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he still views Rodriguez as a baseball mentor.

“He’s my favorite player, and will always be my favorite player,” Orioles All-Star third baseman Manny Machado told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. “He loves the game, loves it to death. I hope he comes back and does great. It’s unfortunate everything that has happened, but he’s a great mentor for me, and always gives me encouragement.

“No matter what happens to him, he will always be my friend.

“There’s a lot of people in the baseball world rooting for him, and a lot people like me want to see the old A-Rod come back and be the best.”


Machado added that A-Rod texted him on his 21st birthday and congratulated him on his successes in the big leagues. He said that a signed Alex Rodriguez baseball is the greatest gift he ever received from a baseball player.