Major League Baseball is reportedly in the process of cutting a deal with Anthony Bosch that could result in a hefty suspension for Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and nearly two dozen other MLB players. Back in April, the New York Times reported that MLB had paid some former Biogenesis employees for documents related to the case. Now, it appears they are working closely with the man in charge of the clinic as well.
According to the NY Daily News, Bosch recently asked Rodriguez for financial help and the Yankees’ slugger refused his request for money. As a result, Bosch has agreed to cooperate with MLB in its ongoing investigation. If the league did not strike a deal with him, the concern was that Bosch might turn to players for money and cover up the case.
“They were afraid someone else would pay him,” a source reportedly told the NY Daily News. “Bosch is the only guy that can provide them with what they need.”
Bosch and his lawyer, Susy Ribero-Ayala, allegedly informed MLB that they are willing to provide “damaging information” about Bosch’s past dealings with A-Rod and Braun. Braun is believed to have worked with Bosch as far back as his days playing college baseball at Miami.
In order to get Bosch to cooperate, MLB has had to really sweeten the pot. The Daily News reports that the league has agreed to drop the lawsuit it filed against him earlier in the year, pay his legal bills, protect him from any civil liability that might arise and provide him with personal security. Officials also say MLB will intervene if any law enforcement officials come after Bosch for admitting he supplied players with performance-enhancing drugs.
The obvious question is this: what if Bosch lies? What if he simply says he treated A-Rod, Braun and dozens of others because he likes the deal MLB is offering? NY Daily News legal analyst Tom Harvey insists it won’t be that simple and that the league had little choice.
“Put yourself in their position,” Harvey said. “You ask the witness to help you and he says, ‘Why would I do that? I’m going to get burned if I do, sued, the works.’ In light of what some of these athletes have done in the past with lawsuits and threats, including Lance Armstrong and Roger Clemens, why wouldn’t you want to be indemnified? Defending that lawsuit could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Bosch feels that he has been “falsely accused” and has done nothing wrong. His decision to cooperate with MLB could spell bad news and an end to the season for Rodriguez, Braun and others.
