Jorge Posada apologizes for Alex Rodriguez comments, says he was 'cornered'

Jorge Posada says he was cornered into saying that former teammate Alex Rodriguez's steroid-riddled past should prohibit him from entering the Hall of Fame.

"He knows how I feel about him," Posada said to CBS New York. "And I would like to - if I caused him anything, I would like to apologize. … I felt like the guy kept pushing towards that response, and I should have known better."

On Wednesday, the former New York Yankees catcher told CBS This Morning that A-Rod, along with former teammate Roger Clemens shouldn't be allowed to be enshrined, given their use of performance enhancing drugs.

But a day later, Posada was apologetic, claiming that he was put in an awkward position to answer a question fuelled with controversy.

"I tried to text (Rodriguez) yesterday," Posada said. "I feel like I was cornered into this answer. I know better. I was really caught off-guard."

In his initial comments, Posada - who retired from baseball in 2012 - also addressed the 2003 season in which he finished third in MVP voting, while a 27-year-old Rodriguez ran away with the award.

The catcher was clearly unhappy, saying it was "really tough" to face the fact that he missed out on the MVP award to a player who used performance enhancing drugs.

But on Thursday, Posada said he doesn't hold any hard feelings towards Rodriguez. In fact, it's the complete opposite.

"Alex I'm happy for - I mean, I love the guy," Posada said. "I care for him."

Rodriguez responded to Posada's latest comments later in the day.

"Apology accepted. Much appreciated," Rodriguez told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.