Exclusive: Jose Canseco Says 'The Truth Hurts'

March 26, 2008— -- In an exclusive interview with "Nightline" co-anchor Martin Bashir, Jose Canseco talks about the explosive allegations in his new book, including his claim that he put star New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez in touch with a trainer who was also a supplier of steroids.

He did this, Canseco claimed, after Rodriguez asked him "where one would go to get steroids if one wanted them."

In the book, Canseco claims this took place "in the latter half of the 1990s."

Canseco acknowledged to Bashir that he does not know whether the trainer -- whom he calls "Max" -- actually provided steroids to Rodriguez.

"I cannot bet my life on it … that Alex Rodriguez ever used steroids," he told Bashir, "but in my opinion, I suspect he has, yes."

When challenged by Bashir to identify "Max" or to provide other evidence to support his claims, Canseco said "the timing's not right."

"That's just not a good enough answer," Bashir said. "Why don't you produce the evidence?"

"Let's see how Alex reacts to this," Canseco said. "Let's see how Alex reacts. Let's see if they call me a liar again. How's that for ya? Let's see if all of a sudden they're gonna call me a liar again."

Canseco also repeated to Bashir his allegation that he thought Rodriguez was pursuing a relationship with Canseco's then-wife Jessica.

When questioned about the severity of the allegations against Rodriguez and other players in the book, "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars and the Battle to Save Baseball," Canseco said that "the truth hurts; that's all I can say."

Tuesday, Rodriguez reacted to Canseco's allegations, saying, according to published reports, "I really, absolutely, have no reaction." Of the claim about Canseco's wife, he said, "I don't know how to answer that."

When asked by Bashir why Rodriguez would seek out steroids when he was already performing at a high level, Canseco replied, "I have no idea. You should be asking him that."