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TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is set to play Tuesday night in his first minor league game on a rehabilitation assignment. And this time, all sides agree hes ready to go. Rodriguez said he felt fine and was eager to get on the field for Class A Charleston. "Awesome," he said Monday at the Yankees spring training complex. "Im really excited." Rodriguez said he didnt have a timetable for rejoining the Yankees, a team in desperate need of hitters. He was on a conference call with team officials earlier in the day. "I have no idea," he said. Last week, Rodriguez posted on Twitter that his hip surgeon had cleared him to play in rehab games. That upset Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who said Rodriguez hadnt been OKed by team doctors. Cashman lashed out at Rodriguez with a profanity, then said the next day that he regretted his word choice. Rodriguez later spoke with owner Hal Steinbrenner, with the executive reiterating that injury news should be announced by the team, not players. Now, no problems. "Its all been very positive. Were all looking in the same direction: ... Get back to New York as soon as possible, and tomorrow is the first big step," Rodriguez said. "Weve talked to all our doctors. Everyone has approved it." The Yankees rank near the bottom of the American League in runs and home runs. Minus Rodriguez, the Yankees have especially struggled at third base. Rookie David Adams is hitting under .200 and Kevin Youkilis, signed in the off-season to hold the job until A-Rod returned, was batting only .218 before he went on the disabled list with back problems. Rodriguez and Youkilis are among several injured players on the Yankees, who began the day in fourth place in the AL East. Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira are also sidelined, as are others. Manager Joe Girardi called the rehab assignment "a step in the right direction." "I expect him to be a productive player," Girardi said before the Yankees opened a series at Minnesota. "The last time he got his hip fixed, he came productive. Hopefully this will solve some of the things he was dealing with last year and I expect him to be productive. "I cant tell you exactly what hes going to do, but I think hes going to be a good player," he said. The Yankees said Rodriguez was scheduled to start for Single-A Charleston in the South Atlantic League. Rodriguez was supposed to play at least three innings against Rome during the game in South Carolina. "It will be the first game that I play in, in maybe over eight months. Its been a long time. Its going to be great to suit up again. It gets me one step closer to helping my team win in New York," he said. Rodriguez has been working out in Florida this year while recovering from surgery on his left hip on Jan. 16. The three-time AL MVP turns 38 later this month. Many rehabbing Yankees play for the minor league team in Tampa, but lately the weather has been rainy. The inclement forecast prompted the Yankees to have Rodriguez start with Charleston. "Two things -- were working with the scheduling, where all these teams are at. Theres rain all over the East Coast. So, were just going to try and run away, try to find some good sunshine." "It has to do more with the weather. In an ideal world, we would always play at home because we can do more work, but if the weather is bad, we may have to jump over at X, Y or Z, depending where the sunshine is," he said. Rodriguez walked out of the camp carrying an equipment bag while a clubhouse assistant brought a box of bats. They put them in Rodriguezs car, and he signed several autographs before driving off. Rodriguez has 647 career home runs. The Yankees have struggled this season while Rodriguez and several other stars have been on the disabled list. Rodriguez has 20 days on this assignment to get ready to play. Once he is ready, Girardi said he still envisions Rodriguez as an everyday third baseman with no plans to make him a primary designated hitter. "Weve had trouble scoring runs," Girardi said. "Thats no secret. So itd be nice to get some big bats back." NOTES: SS Derek Jeter (ankle) ran the bases for the first time during his recent recovery. ... OF Curtis Granderson (broken finger) put on a glove and caught easy flyballs. Hydro Flask Black Friday . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Swell Cyber Monday Sale . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. http://www.waterbottleblackfriday.com/ . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Swell Black Friday Sale . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Hydro Flask Cyber Monday . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League.LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on Monday signed a two-year contract extension with the Premier League club where he has spent his entire career. The 33-year-old midfielder has scored 159 goals in 630 appearances since making his debut in 1998. "Its great news," he said. "It lets me know the club thinks an awful lot of me and want me here. "Im glad its all done and its happened at the right time before the season, so I can just focus on playying as well as I can.dddddddddddd" The England captains Anfield career could extend beyond his 35th birthday. "Were pleased today to add an extension to his existing agreement and that keeps him here until the end of his career," Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said. "Weve said what well do in two years time is review it again and see how happy Steven is. We seem to always be happy with him, so hopefully well just continue in that vein." ' ' '