New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is supposed to return from injury this week, but there are a number of scenarios that could prevent that from happening. For starters, we have no idea if the team will declare him healthy enough to play after the strained quad saga that has developed over the past week or so. Then, there is the looming possibility of a significant suspension.
Ryan Braun has already been suspended for his alleged involvement with Tony Bosch’s Biogenesis clinic, but that’s because he essentially took a plea deal. Rodriguez and others may not have been willing to do the same, but the NY Post reported on Sunday that Major League Baseball could announce suspensions for A-Rod and as many as 15 others this week.
According to the Post, MLB is looking to officially announce the rest of the suspensions before there are less than 50 games remaining in the season. The penalty for a first offense is 50 games. As we have mentioned before, Rodriguez could be treated as more than just a first-time offender.
If the evidence against A-Rod is damning and it can be proved that he interfered with the investigation, his suspension could reach well beyond 50 games. Rodriguez also admitted to previous performance-enhancing drug use from 2001-2003, though there were no official penalties in place at that time. However, all of the aforementioned PED trouble could reportedly inspire Bud Selig and MLB officials to suspend A-Rod for the remainder of 2013 and all of 2014.
A lifetime ban is also reportedly still on the table, though it is unlikely it would stick if Rodriguez appealed. At age 38, a suspension through the 2014 season could basically end A-Rod’s career given his injury history. He would likely stick around anyway to collect as much of the roughly $100 million remaining on his contract as he can.
