New York, NY – New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and eight other players will reportedly be suspended by the end of this week for allegedly obtaining performance-enhancing drugs from Biogenesis of America, the now-defunct Miami-based anti-aging clinic.
The New York Daily News reports MLB officials told union leaders of the planned suspensions during a meeting at the MLBPA's Midtown Manhattan offices on Tuesday.
The newspaper reports most of the player will be suspended 50 games, but Rodriguez faces a stiffer penalty for lying to investigators for interfering with MLB's investigation into Biogenesis.
Two of the players, Oakland A's pitcher Bartolo Colon and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera won't be suspended because they already served a suspension for their links to Biogenesis, according to the newspaper.
Other players allegedly connected to Biogenesis are New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta and San Diego Padres infielder Everth Cabrera.
Rodriguez has not yet played this season due to hip and quad injuries. He was sidelined for the first 3 1/2 months after recovering from hip surgery and recently the Yankees and the three-time AL MVP have clashed on the quad injury with A-Rod saying he wants to play, but the Yankees saying he needs more time to recover.
The Daily News reports A-Rod is due to play a simulated game Thursday and could join the Yankees as early as Friday in San Diego, but he may never get on the field again due to a suspension.
If Rodriguez decides to appeal, the newspaper reports commissioner Bud Selig could invoke a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that says "the right to take action against a player to preserve the integrity of the game." By doing that Selig could bypass the grievance procedure from the Players' Association, and he'd attempt to keep Rodriguez off the field, possibly for the rest of his career.
The Daily News reports Rodriguez would be suspended immediately for interfering with Major League Baseball's investigation into Biogenesis.
Rodriguez could still appeal the suspension, but Selig would hear that appeal instead of an arbitration-based system for doping cases.
Rodriguez has never been disciplined for a doping offense. If he was suspended for doping, he'd go through the appeals process as outlined in the Joint Drug Agreement. But by Selig going through the labor deal, A-Rod likely wouldn't be able to delay his suspension.
The newspaper reports MLB investigators believe they have plenty of evidence that shows A-Rod used performance-enhancing drugs in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and possibly longer.
In 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids as a member of the Texas Rangers from 2001-03.
The Daily News reports a settlement could result in A-Rod sitting out until 2015. In that case, he'd still have a chance to collect the $60 million the Yankees would owe him between 2015-2017.
The 38-year-old Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, is fifth in career home runs with 647.
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