Alex Rodriguez batting for Texas.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Major League Baseball's investigation into the link between the now-shuttered Biogenesis anti-aging clinic and performance-enhancing substances provided to more than a dozen players culminated in Monday's announcement that 13 players have been suspended.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez topped the list on one of the most significant disciplinary days in baseball history. MLB handed down a suspension that would sideline the 38-year-old Rodriguez through the end of the 2014 season.
Rodriguez is expected to appeal and play for the Yankees against the White Sox on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, his season debut following offseason hip surgery. His case will be heard by arbitrator Frederic Horowitz, most likely within three weeks.
Rodriguez's discipline, MLB said in its written announcement, is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years. Rodriguez's discipline under the basic agreement is for attempting to cover up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation.
His suspension, which will become effective on Thursday, will cover 211 regular-season games and any 2013 postseason games in which Rodriguez otherwise would have been eligible to play. Under the terms of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, his suspension will be stayed until the completion of his appeal if Rodriguez files a grievance challenging his discipline.
Other players who were handed 50-game suspensions that effectively end their regular seasons include Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo and recently demoted Mets utilityman Jordany Valdespin.
Minor leaguers Fernando Martinez, Jordan Norberto, Fautino de los Santos, Cesar Puello and Sergio Escalona were also suspended.
All the suspended players except Rodriguez accepted MLB's punishment and will be able to return in the postseason or start fresh next season. Brewers All-Star left-fielder Ryan Braun agreed to a season-ending 65-game punishment last month.
"Despite the challenges this situation has created during a great season on the field, we pursued this matter because it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "For weeks, I have noted the many players throughout the game who have strongly voiced their support on this issue, and I thank them for it."
Cruz and Peralta are playing for teams well-positioned to make the postseason; Cruz reportedly decided only at the last moment not to file a grievance and the Tigers acquired Jose Iglesias from the Red Sox at last week's non-waiver Trade Deadline in order to have a shortstop to play in Peralta's absence. Any player who accepted penalties through the end of the regular season would be eligible for the playoffs.
However, it remains to be seen if such players could remain sharp enough to contribute after a two-month layoff. When Melky Cabrera was suspended in the second half of last season, the Giants chose not to bring him back for the playoffs.
Monday's developments are the latest signal that both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association are serious about ridding the game of steroids, human growth hormone and other substances. In January, random unannounced blood tests for HGH and offseason testing for synthetic testosterone were added to the league's drug program.
Rodriguez received a harsher punishment because MLB reportedly believes that he not only received drugs from Biogenesis but, according to multiple reports, helped recruit other players to the clinic and later obstructed MLB's investigation.
There had been reports that MLB was threatening Rodriguez with a lifetime ban or that Selig would seek to suspend him under the Basic Agreement's "best interests of baseball" clause that would have precluded him from playing while his appeal was heard.
Instead, the appeal will focus on Rodriguez's alleged wrong-doing instead of whether baseball overreached in handing down its punishment.
There have also been reports that Rodriguez, the highest-paid player in baseball, is intent on preserving as much of his money as possible. Next season alone he is scheduled to make $25 million. If his appeal is denied and he serves out his suspension, there will still be $61 million left on the final three years of his contract, 2015-17.
----- Source: MLB.com
Rodriguez in Yankees' dugout during 2007 Spring Training.
photo by Tim Evearitt