Does Ryan Braun’s Acceptance of PED Suspension Mean the End for A-Rod?
July 22, 2013 · Chris Stephens · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The end for Alex Rodriguez is near.
After he recently admitted to his role in the Biogenesis scandal, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was suspended for the rest of the season, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
Braun met with MLB investigators on June 29 while in Pittsburgh and refused to cooperate, according to ESPN’s T.J. Quinn and Mike Fish.
Even so, Braun realized MLB had a lot on him, and he agreed to the suspension:
“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect,” Braun said in a statement released by MLB. “I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions…”
With Braun now suspended, the focus turns to Alex Rodriguez, who is the other big name in the case. You can expect a suspension to be handed down there as well.
A-Rod as of Late
Rodriguez met with MLB investigators two Fridays ago in Tampa, according to a report by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
While what was discussed at the meeting hasn’t been made public, it is known that Rodriguez didn’t show up for his rehab assignment with the Tampa Yankees.
Could it have been because of this meeting?
Now, he’s going to remain on the disabled list with a Grade 1 quad strain, according to multiple media outlets.
Then there’s this tweet by Quinn:
Based on the tweet, could MLB be trying to put together a case that could ban A-Rod forever?
Certainly, MLB doesn’t want to have an admitted user occupying the No. 1 spot for career home runs.
He’s already confirmed his PED use during his time with the Texas Rangers, so what would have stopped him from doing it again?
And the Yankees definitely wouldn’t mind him being banned, especially if that meant they wouldn’t have to pay the final $114 million left on his contract.
In an ESPN New York story by Wallace Matthews, a team source said it’s all about the money now for Rodriguez:
It’s all about the money for him now. He knows he’s not getting into the Hall of Fame and he knows he’s probably going to get suspended, so he’s trying to figure out a way to make sure he gets paid.
Needless to say, things don’t look good for A-Rod and he knows it.
Suspend Him Soon
MLB needs to get on with A-Rod’s case and suspend him before he comes back from the disabled list.
According to a story by Bill Madden and Teri Thompson of the New York Daily News, if the league doesn’t act swiftly, the Yankees could be on the hook for Rodriguez’s entire contract:
One way to do that is for Rodriguez to return to game action, find he can no longer perform up to his standards, then retire before he’s hit with a suspension without pay. A player who retires because he is physically unable to perform, even if he’s later suspended, would still get the full amount of his contract.
Now, a player who is deemed physically unable to perform is allowed by baseball to retire and still collect his money.
MLB has to move quickly on this and get some type of suspension to stick. If it can, that will go a long way in helping ensure A-Rod doesn’t make all of the money left on his contract.
Regardless of what happens, this is the beginning of the end for Rodriguez. The only question is how much money he will get when it’s all said and done.
The Hall of Fame is out. The career home run title is out.
The only thing that’s still on the table is $114 million. Hopefully, MLB can do something to prevent him from being rewarded for cheating.
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