Derek Jeter Won't Take The Bait

Tuesday, February 20th 2007, 10:32 pm

By: News On 6

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ One day after Alex Rodriguez finally acknowledged that he and Derek Jeter are no longer best friends, his teammate sat in the same 1st-base dugout at Legends Field and was asked to respond.

Jeter maintains the two have a fine relationship on the field and in the clubhouse, but resolutely refused to discuss the deterioration of their friendship away from the ballpark.

Shortly after arriving at spring training on Monday, A-Rod said it was time for him to stop pretending that his relationship with Jeter was as close as it was in the 1990s. The pair have drifted apart since Rodriguez made critical remarks about Jeter in a 2001 Esquire article.

This will be the fourth season Rodriguez and Jeter will play alongside each other in the Yankees' infield.