A-Rod storms out of grievance hearing after arbitrator refuses to order MLB commissioner to testify

Baseball • Alex Rodriguez benched himself at his own grievance hearing.

The New York Yankees star walked out in the middle of a session Wednesday, furious arbitrator Fredric Horowitz refused to order baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to testify. The move, followed by angry statements accusing Selig of bias and the entire arbitration process of flaws, appeared to be a prelude to a lawsuit challenging whatever ruling Horowitz makes on A-Rod's 211-game suspension.

Horowitz was in the midst of the third week of hearings on the grievance filed by the players' association to overturn the penalty given to the three-time AL MVP by Major League Baseball in August for alleged violations of the sport's drug agreement and labor contract.

"I lost my mind. I banged a table and kicked a briefcase and slammed out of the room," Rodriguez said during a 40-minute interview on WFAN radio. "I probably overreacted, but it came from the heart."

Tigers, Rangers to swap Fielder, Kinsler

MLB • A person with knowledge of the deal says the Detroit Tigers and Texas have agreed to a blockbuster trade that would send slugger Prince Fielder to the Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

Fielder signed a $214 million, nine-year contract with the Tigers before the 2012 season that includes a limited no-trade provision, and the big first baseman was set to approve the deal.

From wire reports