New York, NY – Major League Baseball and Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch reportedly worked out an agreement only after Alex Rodriguez refused to financially help the owner of the Florida anti-aging clinic that is at the center of the latest performance-enhancing scandal.
The New York Daily News cited a source as saying Bosch went to Rodriguez for financial aid after MLB filed a lawsuit against him. When A-Rod wouldn't cooperate, Bosch apparently agreed to help baseball in its investigation.
ESPN's "Outside the Lines" broke the story of Bosch's agreement earlier this week, indicating that Major League Baseball will seek to suspend about 20 players for their involvement with the Florida clinic that allegedly supplied performance-enhancing substances.
The ESPN report said the suspensions could be handed down within the next two weeks. The names included were Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Yasmani Grandal, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta, Cesar Puello, Fernando Martinez, Everth Cabrera, Fautino de los Santos and Jordan Norberto.
On Wednesday, the Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement regarding the latest PED controversy, saying the union has been in contact with the commissioner's office and that every player interviewed in regard to the matter will have representation from the MLBPA.
Rodriguez, rehabbing from hip surgery at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, issued a statement Thursday through his public relations firm in regard to the latest controversy.
"Myself and others are being mentioned in a media report before the process is even concluded," Rodriguez said in the statement. "I would hope this thing would follow the guidelines of our Basic Agreement. I will monitor the situation and comment when appropriate.
"As I have said previously, I am working out every day to get back on the field and help the Yankees win a championship. I am down here doing my job and working hard and will continue to do so until I'm back playing."
Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP, has never tested positive for steroids but admitted in a 2009 interview to using performance-enhancing drugs while a member of the Texas Rangers from 2001-03.
Braun successfully appealed a 50-game suspension for a positive PED test following his NL MVP campaign of 2011. Braun previously stated he had a business relationship with Bosch, but only as a consultant during his appeal.
Cabrera, Colon and Grandal have all tested positive for steroids and were handed 50-game suspensions within the past year.
The Biogenesis controversy began in January when the Miami New Times reported it had obtained medical records of players who had purchased banned substances -- namely human growth hormone -- from the clinic.
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