Arlington, Texas ? Former AL MVP Jose Canseco claims he was told three years ago by several players, including Alex Rodriguez, that he was being “blackballed” by baseball.

In an interview with Fox Sports Net that was broadcast Wednesday night, Canseco said he was never given a chance to go back into baseball after playing for the Chicago White Sox in 2001 even though he had 462 career homers and still wanted to play.

“Three years ago, I had a few players come up to me and say that I was being blackballed,” Canseco said. “One of the players to tell me that I was being blackballed, to me, is the greatest player in the world, Alex Rodriguez. All the athletes know why I am out of the game, it’s an internal thing, it’s kept in the family.”

Rodriguez, the All-Star shortstop now with the Texas Rangers, was the only player specifically identified by Canseco.

After reading a partial transcript of the interview Wednesday, Rodriguez said he didn’t recall such a conversation with Canseco.

“I don’t remember that. I really don’t. I don’t recall that. I just wish him the best,” Rodriguez said before the Rangers’ game against Toronto.

When asked if Canseco was blackballed by baseball, Rodriguez responded, “I have no idea. I haven’t really thought about it.”

Canseco is serving a two-year house arrest following a 30-day jail sentence for violating terms of his probation for a 2001 fight in a Miami Beach nightclub.

Rodriguez said he couldn’t explain why Canseco hasn’t played since 2001.

“Look, when you have someone with great talent, you often wonder why someone’s not playing if he has the desire to play. But that’s something that I can’t explain,” Rodriguez said.

The 38-year-old Canseco was a six-time All-Star who played 17 seasons for seven teams.

During the interview with Fox, Canseco also talked about his experience in prison, steroids, Mark McGwire and his tell-all book that he hopes will “come out around the playoffs or World Series.”

Canseco wasn’t specific in the interview about what major league players used steroids, or if he used steroids.

“The whole world will have everything there is to know about it,” Canseco said. “That’s for the book to tell. Who used them, what was involved and how.”