A-Rod Could Have Taken A 50-Game Suspension

A couple weeks ago, Major League Baseball handed down a 211-game suspension on Alex Rodriguez, to which A-Rod is currently appealing, as well as playing in games for the New York Yankees. As Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports, that 211-game suspension could have been far less than 211-games.

According to Rosenthal, back in April, MLB "floated a 50-game suspension. Rodriguez, however, was not willing to work toward such a deal and hired new representation because he wanted to mount a more aggressive fight."

"At different points, it could have been way, way less than where it is now," said one source to Rosenthal.

Of course, Major League Baseball is disputing that it ever offered A-Rod a 50-game suspension, with one source telling Rosenthal that it was Rodriguez who actively pursued such a deal, only to be denied.

If A-Rod had negotiated a 50-game ban with MLB, he could have served the entire penalty on the disabled list while recovering from the hip surgery he underwent in January. He didn't join the Yankees until August 5th, missing the team's first 110 games.

A-Rod is currently appealing his 211-game suspension given to him by MLB, but a decision by arbitrator Frederick Horowitz is not expected to come down until this offseason, letting Rodriguez continue to play for the rest of this season.

Follow @GavinEwbank2013 Tweet