MLB Expected to Suspend 9 Players Friday while A-Rod’s Fate Uncertain
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Expectations are that Major League Baseball (MLB) will suspend nine players on Friday. New York Yankees shortstop Alex Rodriguez will more than likely not be among them as his penalty for using performance enhancing drugs (PED) is expected to be more severe.
The suspensions are the result of a scandal earlier this year where 20 players were identified as having received PEDs from the Biogenesis of America Anti-aging Clinic based at that time in Florida. The clinic is no longer in business.
The nine players, whose names are speculative at this point, will receive a 50-game suspension with some of them getting an additional 15-game suspension for interfering with MLB’s investigation.
Alex Rodriguez is one of the players linked to the scandal. His case is more complex as he is teetering whether to accept a plea deal or appeal the suspension MLB wants to impose.
Currently, Rodriguez’s lawyer David Cornwell indicates that any suspension will be appealed and no deals will be made.
Talk around MLB Thursday buzzed that deal or no deal it is more than likely the end of Rodriguez’s professional career. This after a report was released that he faces a lifetime ban from the game unless he can settle a plea agreement related to his link with using PEDs.
Even if Rodriguez accepts a suspension deal, at age 38 it is unlikely that he will be seen much in future seasons.
A lifetime ban would be the penalty if MLB decides to invoke Article XII(B) of the league agreement which specifies, “Players may be disciplined for just cause for conduct that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of baseball including, but not limited to, engaging in conduct in violation of federal, state or local law.”
The lifetime ban based on this league agreement would be a way for MLB to bring closure to the entire scandal in spite of Rodriguez’s efforts to stall penalty actions for using PEDs.
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