UPDATE 8/5 8:45 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez 211 game suspension doesn't begin till Thursday and his appeal may keep him in the lineup for even longer. With that, A-Rod played tonight, going 1 for 4 with a single and strikeout as the White Sox defeated the Yankees 8 to 1 in Chicago.
For a complete list of those who have accepted their PED Biogenesis suspensions, click here.
UPDATE 8/5 12:00 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 211 games for the use of PEDs and obstructing MLB's investigation. Indications are that Alex Rodriguez will fight the suspension and play tonight for the Yankees.
For a complete list of those who have accepted their PED Biogenesis suspensions, click here.
UPDATE 8/5 10:15 a.m.
Alex Rodriguez still has not reached an agreement with Major League Baseball and indications are that Alex Rodriguez will fight any suspension beyond 50 games.
For a complete list of those who have accepted their PED Biogenesis suspensions, click here.
UPDATE 8/3 5:30 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez could not reach an agreement with Major League Baseball and will be suspended Monday for the remainder of this season and all of 2014, according to ESPN's Outside the Lines.
Rodriguez has maintained he will fight any suspension, and is still expected to do so.
UPDATE 8/2, 3:25 p.m.
The deadline for players to tell MLB if they will accept suspensions is 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, with an announcement to be made on Monday.
UPDATE 8/2 12:45 p.m. PST
Despite the swirling rumors of and reports of Alex Rodriguez' impending suspension, he is continuing with his rehab assignment today and will bat second for the AA Trenton Thunder.
UPDATE 8/2 10:05 a.m. PST
According to the Associated Press and others, Monday is the new deadline for players to accept a deal on a suspension, or else face the full brunt of the Major League Baseball legal team.
The league will have two announcements of suspensions before the end of the day on Monday. One would be of players who accepted deals and will likely sit out the season, the other a list of players who did not and will likely challenge their suspensions, which will likely include Alex Rodriguez.
Despite reports that he and the league were negotiating, those talks seem to have gone no where. His lawyer has made it clear that Rodriguez will challenge any suspension.
UPDATE 8/1 5:45 p.m. PST
Talks have stalled between Alex Rodriguez and Major League Baseball over the suspension they are negotiation, according to ESPN's Outside the Lines. There is a "wide gap" over the length of the suspension, as well as Rodriguez' ability to cash in on at least a portion of the $100 million remaining on his contract.
The Yankees have not had any part in the discussion, focusing - at least outwardly - on nothing but baseball. The club announced today that Rodriguez will continue his minor league rehab assignment in AA Trenton on Friday and could rejoin the Yankees early next week if he is not yet suspended.
UPDATE 7/31 5:50 p.m. PST
Things are happening fast. ESPN's T.J. Quinn says the A-Rod and his reps are now negotiating with MLB about Rodriguez possibly accepting a suspension, with the threat of a lifetime ban looming.
Rodriguez's legal team maintains that they will still appeal any suspension, but after finding out about extent of MLB's evidence are now willing to talk.
Sources tell OTL A-Rod and MLB are negotiating over a possible suspension, with MLB still holding out threat of lifetime ban.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) August 1, 2013
UPDATE 7/31, 5:00 p.m. PST
USA Today's Bob Nightengale is reporting that Major League Baseball is prepared to suspend Alex Rodriguez for life, with an announcement expected before the weekend.
"I hope he does it,'' said former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent in Nightengale's story. "It's right for baseball. The harder he comes down, the better it is for baseball.''
UPDATE 7/31, 11:05 a.m. PST
Major League officials met with representatives from the Players Union on Tuesday and informed them of their plans for suspensions, including which players and how long. The Union is expected to get back to the league Wednesday or Thursday about who will appeal.
Alex Rodriguez' lawyers have remained adamant that A-Rod will fight the suspension all the way, and that he will not accept a deal with the league.
UPDATE 7/30, 4:50 p.m. PST
While every other player Major League Baseball is seeking to suspend in the Biogenesis investigation is ready to accept a "plea deal" of sorts, Rodriguez and his team are refusing to cooperate and prepared to fight the league tooth-and-nail, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan.
Part of the reason is that while other players have agreed to suspensions more in the range of Ryan Bruan's, the deal that MLB offered Rodriguez was a suspension for the rest of this year and all of next year - about 3.5 times as long as Braun's, something Rodriguez is not happy about.
It has been widely reported that MLB may look to ban Rodriguez for life as a result of his lack of cooperation, but doing so could spark a very large dispute with the Players Association, who has been largely cooperative throughout the league's Biogenesis investigation.
UPDATE 7/30, 1:40 p.m. PST
Many have been questioning whether Major League Baseball could suspended Alex Rodriguez under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as opposed to the joint drug agreement. The league is seeking to use the CBA because the appeals process would not immediately go through an independent arbitrator, as would be the case with a suspension under the drug agreement.
There is precedent, and it is very recent. Technically, Ryan Braun's 65-game suspension fell - at least partially - under the CBA. Braun was suspended 50 games for steroid usage, and the additional 15 was for disparaging comments he made about MLB's drug testing program after his (voided) positive test in 2011.
UPDATE 7/30, 10:20 a.m. PST
Major League Baseball may seek to suspend Alex Rodriguez under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as opposed to the joint drug agreement. Doing so would allow the league to avoid a more drawn-out appeals process the drug agreement affords players as first-time offenders, which Rodriguez will technically be.
Under the CBA, baseball could suspended Rodriguez for various "conducts detrimental to the game," such as lying about his relationship with Biogenesis to investigators and breaking laws by taking steroids without a doctor's prescription. Rodriguez' appeal would not immediately go to an independent arbiter, as Ryan Braun's did in 2011.
UPDATE 7/29, 12:45 p.m. PST
Major League Baseball is meeting with the legal team of Alex Rodriguez today to discuss whether Rodriguez would accept (without appeal) a suspension for the remainder of the 2013 season and all of the 2014 season - more than 200 games. This according to the New York Daily News.
However, despite seemingly mountains of evidence, Rodriguez is said to be unlikely to cut a deal with baseball. If that turns out to be the case, and Rodriguez declines the suspension, MLB will still seek to ban Rodriguez for life.
UPDATE 7/29, 10:20 a.m. PST
Major League Baseball is expected to announce the suspensions of Rodriguez and other Biogenesis athletes later this week. Most suspensions are expected to be for the remainder of this season - a bit more than 50 games for most teams. Rodriguez, however, is in line for much more. The New York Post reported this weekend that MLB considers A-Rod a repeat offender and an "obstructer of justice," as there is evidence that he attempted to deceive league investigators.
Initially it was thought that baseball was seeking to ban Rodriguez for life, like Pete Rose. However, the league has apparently decided that Rodriguez would be very likely to win an appeal on such a harsh punishment, and is not seeking to suspend A-Rod for the rest of this season and all of next one - more than 200 games. This would effectively end Rodriguez' career, as he would not return until he was close to 40, having not played in two full seasons and coming off of a pair of hip surgeries.
UPDATE 7/26, 10:30 a.m. PST
The Yankees plan to "discipline" Alex Rodriguez - likely in the form of a fine - for failing to adhere by the collective bargaining agreement in seeking an additional medical opinion without telling the club, according to the New York Daily News.
A-Rod says he will accept the Yankees plan for him to begin a second rehab stint on August 1, despite Rodriguez' instance that his quadricep injury is healed and he is ready to play.
"Obviously, I'm an employee. I have to follow my bosses," said Rodriguez. "I was on the phone with both of my bosses. They said there is a protocol."
UPDATE 7/25, 3:00 p.m. PST
The Yankees have decided to keep Alex Rodriguez down in Tampa on rehab, despite A-Rod's claims that he is ready to play tomorrow.
"If it was his choice, he would be out there Friday," said Yankees general manager Brian Cahsman. "But that wouldn't be responsible."
According to USA Today, Rodriguez will play in either a rehab or a simulated game on August 1, and the Yankees will decide their course of actions from there.
UPDATE 7/25, 11:10 a.m. PST
The New York Post and others are now saying that Rodriguez actually did inform the Yankees that he was seeking a second opinion, but only did so after he had already received it - telling Yankees president Randy Levine at 11 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Levine then told Rodriguez that he had not followed the "established protocol," and Rodriguez has basically not spoken with the Yankees since, according to the Post.
UPDATE 7/25, 10:35 a.m. PST
Rodriguez released a statement this morning, saying he and the Yankees "crossed signals" yesterday and that he is ready to play.
I think the Yanks and I crossed signals. I don't want any more mix ups. I'm excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and I'm ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, let's play.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be evaluated - again - at the Yankees facility in Tampa today.
UPDATE 7/24, 6:25 p.m. PST
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman released a rather juicy statement this evening in regards to Alex Rodriguez essentially saying that the Yankees and Major League Baseball are conspiring to keep him off the field by making up injuries for him.
Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain.
As early as Friday, July 12, when I suggested to Alex that we move his rehab from Tampa to Triple-A Scranton (at Buffalo), Alex complained for the first time of “tightness” in his quad and therefore refused to consent to the transfer of his assignment. Again, last Sunday, Alex advised that he had stiffness in his quad and should not play on Sunday or Monday. We sent Alex to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI which evidenced a Grade 1 strain.
As always, we will follow the rules and regulations set forth in the Basic Agreement, and will again re-evaluate Alex in Tampa tomorrow, as our goal is to return him to the lineup as soon as he is medically capable of doing so. - Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
So here we have Cashman a) calling out Rodriguez (make that "Mr. Rodriguez") for violating the collective bargaining agreement (called the "Basic Agreement" my Cashman), although that's not a big deal, b) saying the Yankees can't possibly be making up A-Rod's injury because it was "Mr. Rodriguez" himself who said he was injured, and c) subtly digging at Rodriguez' CBA violation by saying "As always, we will follow the rules and regulations set for the in the Basic Agreement."
This can only get better.
UPDATE 7/24, 2:05 p.m. PST
This. Is. War. Rodriguez was diagnosed with a quad strain by Yankees doctors on Monday and sent back down to the minors for me rehab. A-Rod didn't think he was still injured, so he went and got a second opinion from his personal doctor, who said that Rodriguez is completely healthy.
Now the Yankees are investigating whether Rodriguez' obtaining of a second opinion without telling the team is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement (Update: it is, but there's nothing the Yankees could have done to stop him except make him pay for the examination himself).
Rodriguez is said to believe that the Yankees and Major League Baseball are conspiring to keep him off the field as he nears an apparent suspension for performance enhancing drug usage.
UPDATE 7/24, 10:45 a.m. PST
Ryan Braun struck a deal with MLB in receiving his 65-game suspension. But according to USA Today, Alex Rodriguez is not attempting to do the same. He plans instead to appeal any suspension.
Rodriguez and his lawyers have met with MLB investigators numerous times, most recently on July 12 in Tampa. The league apparently showed Rodriguez and his team the evidence they have against him, although what exactly that is is still unknown.
The Yankees have seemingly attempted to keep their distance from their increasingly-embattled slugger. Rodriguez has not yet played with the team while rehabbing from hip surgery this past offseason. He was scheduled to return on Monday, but was diagnosed with a strained quadricep and sent back down to the Yankees minor league facility.
ORIGINAL POST:
In the wake of the bombshell suspension Major League Baseball dropped on Ryan Braun Monday, all eyes have shifted to Alex Rodriguez and his seemingly eminent suspension.
The evidence MLB stockpiled against Braun earned him a suspension for the remainder of the season - 65 games. The evidence the league has against Rodriguez is said to be far greater.
Braun made a deal with the league, or in all likelihood would have faced a 100-game suspension as a two-time offender. According to CBS New York, Rodriguez could be considered a third-time offender if he does not reach a deal with MLB. The penalty for a third-time offense is a lifetime ban, which cannot be so much as appealed for two full years.
Braun tested positive following his MVP-winning 2011 season, but acquitted on a technicality regarding the testing procedure. Rodriguez has never tested positive, but in the wake of tremendous evidence and media pressure admitted to using performance enhancing drugs in a few select years with the Rangers. Just 2001, 2002 and 2003, to be exact.
Baseball, thanks to the help of Biogenesis, the South Florida clinic where Braun, Rodriguez and others are said to have gotten their drugs, has allegedly developed a concrete record on Rodriguez of an awful lot more than just three years.
His suspension is expected not long after the trade deadline on July 31.
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