Major League Baseball has been playing hardball with Alex Rodriguez since they began investigating his alleged involvement with Biogenesis, and it is slowly starting to look like the league will get its way. Rodriguez’s lawyers have been adamant throughout the entire process that A-Rod will appeal any suspension he is given, but could they be softening their stance?
On Wednesday night, ESPNNewYork.com’s reported that a source told “Outside the Lines” that Rodriguez’s representatives are negotiating a settlement with league officials — something most of the other players involved with Biogenesis are doing or have done.
The report comes on the heels of speculation that Major League Baseball will look to ban A-Rod for life if he does not agree to serve a lengthy suspension. The league clearly wants to do everything in its power to prevent Rodriguez from appealing. If he does, he would be able to play for the New York Yankees this season.
MLB reportedly presented its evidence to Rodriguez earlier this week. All indications have been that the information the league has compiled against him is more compelling that the dirt they had on Braun, including proof that A-Rod intentionally interfered with the investigation and tried to destroy documents. For that reason, Bud Selig and company are looking to come down on him much harder than the 50-game suspensions other “first-time offenders” are expected to receive.
Earlier this week, we shared a report with you about MLB seeking to suspend A-Rod for the remainder of the 2013 season and all of 2014. It sounds like Rodriguez’s attorneys are now leaning toward accepting that punishment rather than having to deal with fighting a lifetime ban from baseball.
A-Rod may never be an effective player again if he is out until 2015, but he can still collect some of the salary New York owes him. That may be all that matters at this point, as his reputation is already destroyed.
