UPDATE 1:17 pm PST:
MLB made the official announcement that Alex Rodriguez has been suspended for 211 games — essentially the rest of this season and all of 2014. The punishment would begin on August 8, however, A-Rod has decided to appeal the suspension and will therefore be allowed to play until his appeal is heard.
A-Rod was quoted by ESPN, stating he was “disappointed with the penalty” and that he intends to “appeal and fight this.”
MLB released the following statement in regards to the suspension:
Rodriguez’s discipline under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program 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.
The following is from MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner:
We agree with [Rodriguez’s] decision to fight the suspension. We believe that the Commissioner has not acted appropriately under the Basic Agreement. Mr. Rodriguez knows that the Union, consistent with its history, will defend his rights vigorously. The Union’s members have made it clear that they want a clean game. They support efforts to discipline players, and harshly, to help ensure an even playing field for all. The players support the Union’s efforts to uphold the JDA while at the same time guaranteeing that players receive the due process rights and confidentiality protections granted under the agreement.
UPDATE 11:29 am PST:
ESPN’s T.J. Quinn is reporting that Alex Rodriguez has been suspended but will play while appealing.
A-Rod punished under drug agreement AND other areas of basic agreement, but will be allowed to play while he appeals.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) August 5, 2013
Quinn also said one minute before the aforementioned post that “Sources tell OTL that MLBPA tried to strike deal today but were rebuffed. The 214-game suspension will be official at 3 (EST).”
UPDATE 10:46 am PST:
FoxSports.com has released the names of the 12 players expected to accept suspensions from MLB for PED use. The list includes:
Nelson Cruz – Rangers, Jhonny Peralta – Tigers, Antonio Bastardo – Phillies, Jordany Valdespin – Mets, Everth Cabrera – Padres, Jordan Norberto – Free Agent, Francisco Cervelli – Yankees, Jesus Montero – Mariners, Cesar Puello – Mets, Sergio Escalona – Astros, Fautino De los Santos – Padres, Fernando Martinez – Yankees
UPDATE 10:24 am PST:
While we still wait for an official announcement from MLB, names have begun to leak. Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan listed three names no one saw coming: Jordany Valdespin of the Mets, the Phillies’ Antonio Bastardo and the Astros’ Sergio Escalona. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, those three players, as well as Nelson Cruz, San Diego’s Everth Cabrera and Detroit’s Jhonny Peralta have all accepted 50-game suspensions.
Still no word on A-Rod or any of the other Biogenesis players….
(Article as of 10:00 am PST)
Shortly after 7:00 am PST Cruz hired Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group to be his new agent, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan via Twitter. While Katz is the agent of stand out players Yoenis Cespedes and Bartolo Colon — both of whom were suspended for PEDs in 2012 — his rap sheet seems to be far more clean than Cruz’s agents of 24 hours ago, Seth and Sam Levinson of ACES.
ACES was investigated by MLB following Melky Cabrera’s 50 game suspension for PED use last season. Cabrera and an ACES employee reportedly tried to cover up the mess by setting up fictional websites that attempted to portray Cabrera as an innocent victim who fell prey to ingesting a product he didn’t know was a PED. ACES also represents Jhonny Peralta, Jesus Montero, Fautino de los Santos, Cesar Puello and Gio Gonzalez, all of whom have been linked to Biogenesis or PEDs (while Gonzalez was linked to Biogenesis, all reports say his substances obtained were all legal).
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported Cruz’s firing of the Levinsons via Twitter at 6:57 am PST.
It sounds like Cruz is trying to rid himself of anyone or anything connected to his PED past. He’s slugging .511 and some predict he will appeal the suspension in order to bat for the Rangers down the stretch to helping their playoff chances — although such a move would hurt his free-agency this off-season, considering he would miss one-third of next season.
Updates to follow all day… It’s going to be a wild one.
Josh Helmuth is the editor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JHelmuth or subscribe at Facebook.com/CraveOnlineSports for the latest in sports on your newsfeed.
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