Alex Rodriguez suspended for the entire 2014 season

We knew it was likely coming, but it finally happened Saturday afternoon when arbitrator Frederick Horowitz announced he would be reducing the 211-game ban on third baseman Alex Rodriguez to just the entire 2014 season, including the playoffs, for for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.

Rodriguez also announced that he plans to fight the ruling in a federal court, as we all expected. However, his court fight is unlikely to go far, and will probably be a waste of time for all involved.

"The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one," Rodriguez said in a statement. "This is one man's decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable.

"This injustice is MLB's first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review."

MLB defended the length of the original suspension in a news release.

"For more than five decades, the arbitration process under the Basic Agreement has been a fair and effective mechanism for resolving disputes and protecting player rights," MLB said in the statement. "While we believe the original 211-game suspension was appropriate, we respect the decision rendered by the Panel and will focus on our continuing efforts on eliminating performance-enhancing substances from our game."

The Yankees also responded in a statement of their own, saying that they "respect Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the arbitration process, as well as the decision released today by the arbitration panel."

A spokeswoman for Bosch said he thought the suspension was deserved.

"Tony Bosch doesn't take joy in seeing Alex Rodriguez suspended from baseball, but he believes the arbitrator's decision was appropriate," Joyce Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "He is glad to have the arbitration behind him and believes he can play a valuable role in the future by educating athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs."

With the full-season suspension, the Yankees will no longer be on the hook for A-Rod's salary in 2014, saving them just over $24 million on the luxury-tax threshold.

Rodriguez also said that he plans to be in Tampa when the Yankees report in about a month. The Yankees and Major League Baseball will meet over the next few days to decide what will happen with A-Rod when Spring Training comes around.

They could tell him not to show up for Spring Training, but under the current rules, he has the right to show up, participate in workouts and play in the games.

Even though his suspension was reduced, this could still be the end of A-Rod's career. He will turn 39-years-old this year, and is still owed $61 million in the final three years of his contract after this season. The Yankees could decide to cut him, eat the remaining $61 million, and it would be highly unlikely that any team ever signs him again.

Through all of this, A-Rod has stuck to his side of the story, standing firm that he has never taken any such PED's or HGH as documented by Bosch and MLB.

"I have been clear that I did not use performance enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline, or violate the Basic Agreement or the Joint Drug Agreement in any manner, and in order to prove it I will take this fight to federal court," Rodriguez said in his statement. "I am confident that when a Federal Judge reviews the entirety of the record, the hearsay testimony of a criminal whose own records demonstrate that he dealt drugs to minors, and the lack of credible evidence put forth by MLB, that the judge will find that the panel blatantly disregarded the law and facts, and will overturn the suspension.

"No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with, and I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players' contracts and rights are protected through the next round of bargaining, and that the MLB investigation and arbitration process cannot be used against others in the future the way it is currently being used to unjustly punish me.

"I will continue to work hard to get back on the field and help the Yankees achieve the ultimate goal of winning another championship. I want to sincerely thank my family, all of my friends, and of course the fans and many of my fellow MLB players for the incredible support I received throughout this entire ordeal."

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A-Rod verdict likely next Friday at the earliest

It's been a few months since Alex Rodriguez began his appeal of the 211-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball, and much of the Yankees' offseason plans have direct ties to the decision that independent arbitrator Frederick Horowitz is expected to hand out very soon.

According to multiple reports, a verdict isn't expected to come down until next Friday, at the earliest. The case for that being that it won't come down until a couple days after the Hall of Fame announcement next week.

No one wants the Hall of Fame announcement to be overshadowed by such a dark cloud of news.

Of course, Horowitz doesn't have to play by MLB's rules when making his decision, and could announced his decision on the day of the HOF announcement if he really wanted to.

Originally, there were some thoughts that Horowitz could make his decision as early as today or even this weekend, by Mike Puma of the NY Post says it probably won't be coming until late next week.

The reason for that: "Rodriguez’s camp had not been notified as of Thursday that a decision was forthcoming," writes Puma. "and did not expect anything to "come from out of the blue" before the end of the week."

The Yankees have been secretly rooting for at least a season-long suspension of A-Rod because it would save them nearly $27.5 million this upcoming season, plus a $6 million bonus if he passes Willie Mays on the all-time homeruns list. A-Rod is also dues a $3 million signing bonus on January 15th, but there is no word as to how the arbitrator's decision will affect that.

At this point, it would be almost impossible for them to get under the self-imposed $189 million luxury-tax threshold, even if A-Rod's suspension is upheld for all of 2014. Anything less than a full season would ensure they don't get under the tax mark.

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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.

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MLB No Long Talking Settlement With A-Rod

After Friday night's rehab game with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, Alex Rodriguez made a comment that Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees are trying to keep A-Rod off the field, making sure he doesn't get another cent of the $100 million he's still owed.

"I think we all agree that we want to get rid of PEDs," Rodriguez said. "That's a must. I think all the players feel that way. But when all the stuff is going on in the background, and people are finding creative ways to cancel your contract and stuff like that, that's concerning for me, that's concerning for present, and that's concerning for future players as well.

"I will say this: there is more than one party that benefits from me not ever stepping back on the field. That's not my teammates and that's not the Yankee fans."

Those comments didn't sit well with MLB, as today, the New York Daily News has reported that the comments have forced MLB to cease from continuing any negotiating with Rodriguez about a possible settlement.

According to the reports, MLB is ready to announce on Monday a 214-game suspension on the aging third baseman, effectively keeping him off the field for the remainder of this season and all of next season.

Says the Daily News, "Players Association chief Michael Weiner reached out to MLB on behalf of Rodriguez Saturday morning in an attempt to talk settlement but was told that baseball is no longer interested in negotiating with the disgraced third baseman."

Following the attempt to reach out to MLB, along with the comments he made about the Yankees, A-Rod then reached out to the Yankees about a possible settlement on the nearly $100 million remaining on his contract. As you would expect, the Yankees denied to engage in any talks.

It was also reported that during the last round of negotiations with MLB and the Players Union, A-Rod's camp offered to for Rodriguez to sever an 80 to 100 game suspension, then have A-Rod retire, while also getting paid out the remaining money on his contract.

“The only problem with that,” said one source told the Daily News, “is that they wanted him to retire and get paid his remaining contract -- a paid vacation, in other words.”

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A-Rod Negotiating A Deal With MLB

Earlier in the night, USA Today reported that Major League Baseball was preparing to suspend Alex Rodriguez for life due to his connection in the Biogenesis scandal. It is believed that he, along with eight other major league players, are expected to hear their punishment at some point this week.

The reports say that MLB has enough evidence to keep Rodriguez off the field for the rest of his life, possibly accusing him of obstructing MLB's investigation.

But now there's a twist in the story: ESPN's T.J. Quinn is reporting that A-Rod and his lawyers are now negotiating with MLB to try to avoid dealing with the possible lifetime ban. Although his lawyers say that they would seek a deal, MLB has shown them enough evidence to prove A-Rod guilty in any case.

Below is a piece from from Quinn's report on ESPN.com:

The source said MLB officials have told Rodriguez's attorneys that they are willing to ban him for life, although sources said it was not clear commissioner Bud Selig was prepared to make such a move, knowing Rodriguez would fight it in arbitration.

Several sources have told "Outside the Lines" that some MLB officials have pushed for a lifetime ban, saying they would rather force Rodriguez to defend himself than agree to a suspension that allows him play while he appeals. Rodriguez was presented with MLB's evidence in recent days, detailing what sources said were "volumes" of documents establishing a connection between Rodriguez and Biogenesis clinic founder Tony Bosch.

Sources said MLB was also given evidence supporting accusations that Rodriguez attempted to coerce at least one witness in MLB's investigation. That accusation is the basis of MLB's argument that Rodriguez may be punished for his conduct, in addition to multiple violations of the game's joint drug agreement.

MLB is apparently hoping that Rodriguez will accept a lengthy suspension that could keep him off the field through at least next season, without the time and trouble of an arbitration hearing.

A couple days ago, it was reported that MLB planned on suspending A-Rod under baseball's CBA rather than the Drug Joint Agreement, meaning that A-Rod wouldn't be able to play in games while fighting any suspension through the appeal process.

Whether Bud Selig will actually go through with a lifetime ban is unknown, it's believed that he was holding the lifetime ban over A-Rod in hopes to get him to settle a deal with MLB.

As for when these suspension will be announced, that's a question we've all been waiting for. We were hoping to hear something before the deadline, but then it was figured more likely to hear something on Thursday or Friday. Now it's sounding like we might not know until this weeks.

I know, it tortures me as much as you. Im just can't wait for all of this to end, so we can go back to talking about on the field baseball.

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A-Rod's lawyer: "We're focusing on an appeal"

Any day, at any moment, Major League Baseball is expected to hand down it's suspension on Alex Rodriguez that could range anywhere from 50 games, to a possible lifetime ban from professional baseball.

Rodriguez's lawyer, David Cornwell, said on ESPN Radio on Monday that they are preparing to appeal any suspension from MLB. "My expectation is that we'll be working toward an appeal," said Cornwell.

Cornwell was on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York 98.7 FM, talking to fill-in host Stephen A. Smith. Though he asked Cornwell an array of questions, not many answers were given.

The New York Daily News reported on Sunday that MLB has offered a deal to A-Rod that, if accepted, would keep Rodriguez off the field for the rest of this season and all of the 2014 season. If rejected, which is what Cornwell gave the impression is happening, then MLB would likely seek a lifetime ban.

The reports also say the MLB is "armed with voluminous evidence they believe would warrant lifetime banishment.", so the idea of fighting any suspension sounds like a waste of time to any outsider that isn't within the A-Rod camp.

But for the time being, A-Rod is in Tampa and is scheduled to play in a simulated game or minor league rehab assignment on Thursday, followed by a five-game rehab that would put him on tap to return to the Yankees on August 6th at the White Sox.

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Reports: A-Rod could sit out rest of '13, all of '14

Ready for your daily dose of Alex Rodriguez? Well, here we go. The New York Daily News is reporting that Major League Baseball has offered A-Rod a deal to sit the rest of this season and the entire 2014 as a suspension for his involvement in the biogenesis scandal.

Accepting this deal would be against the alternative, which is a lifetime ban that MLB would dish out if A-Rod denies to take the suspension. If he rejects, MLB is expected to announce a suspension as soon as late Monday or Tuesday.

"If there is a suspension," says a source close to A-Rod, "he will fight it."

Why wouldn't he fight it? It's what he does. But from a normal fans' standpoint, this would be the biggest waste of time on the planet, considering that the Daily News report also says that MLB is "armed with voluminous evidence they believe would warrant lifetime banishment."

Below is a piece from the news report from the Daily News:

According to a source familiar with the discussions between MLB officials and A-Rod's representatives, if Rodriguez accepted a settlement that would call for him to be suspended for the rest of this year and the entire 2014 season without pay, he would still have a chance to collect the $60 million the Yankees would owe him from 2015 to 2017.

The deal would allow MLB to impose the suspension immediately and avoid arbitration. If Rodriguez declines the deal, commissioner Bud Selig is expected to pursue what would be an historic suspension that would ban the 38-year-old Rodriguez from ever returning to the field.

 Of course saving the money is what the Yankees care about the most, along with the possibility that they wouldn't have to deal with all the drama that A-Rod brings for at least through 2014 season. If that were the case, he would return in 2015 after a two years off, clearly nowhere near a playing condition.

Also to the case, he's still set to make $60 million in three years remaining on his contract after the suspension. Taking the deal that MLB has sent out to him, would still get him the $60 million, while facing a lifetime ban would get him none of the nearly $100 million he's owed through 2017.

Personally, as much as I don't care to see him play again, doesn't it sound smarter to just accept to deal instead of never playing again? It'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next couple of days.

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Cashman Responds To The A-Rod Chaos

For those of you that haven't been following, the biggest story of the day has been Alex Rodriguez and the issue, or no issue, with his quad that was diagnosed by team doctors to have a Grade 1 quad strain.

But on Wednesday, A-Rod took matters into his own hands, reaching out to Dr. Michael Gross, chief of orthopedics of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack. Gross said on WFAN Radio in New York that Rodriguez had asked him to look over the MRI to offer a second opinion.

Gross told WFAN's Mike Francesa that he never treated A-Rod in person, only speaking to him over the phone, but after spending about 20 minutes looking at the image, he saw no reason that Rodriguez couldn't be in the Yankees' lineup.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't see any sort of injury there," Gross said in the radio interview. "I asked him that specifically. I said, 'A-Rod, does anything hurt?' And he said, 'No.' If there's no pain -- to me, as an orthopedist -- that means there's no injury."

A-Rod has said that he feels good and that there's no pain in his quad. According to sources, he told the Yankees that he wants to be in the Yanks' lineup as early as Friday night when the team comes back home to open up a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I asked him, 'Do you think you're fit to play?' And he said, '100 percent,'" Gross said. "I'm guessing a guy who's been playing ball his entire life knows his body. If he thinks he's fit to play, that's what he said."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded to these reports by issuing a statement shortly before the Yankees took the field against the Texas Rangers Wednesday night:

"I heard via a text message this afternoon from Alex Rodriguez that he had retained a doctor to review his medical situation. In media reports, we have since learned that the doctor in question has acknowledged that he did not examine Mr. Rodriguez and that he was not retained to do a comprehensive medical examination of Mr. Rodriguez. Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain.

"As you know, it is the Yankees' desire to have Alex return to the lineup as soon as possible. And we have done everything to try and accomplish this.

"As early as Friday, July 12, when I suggested to Alex that we move his rehab from Tampa to Triple-A Scranton (at Buffalo), Alex complained for the first time of "tightness" in his quad and therefore refused to consent to the transfer of his assignment. Again, last Sunday, Alex advised that he had stiffness in his quad and should not play on Sunday or Monday. We sent Alex to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI which evidenced a Grade 1 strain.

"As always, we will follow the rules and regulations set forth in the Basic Agreement, and will again re-evaluate Alex in Tampa tomorrow, as our goal is to return him to the lineup as soon as he is medically capable of doing so."

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Thursday's notes: A-Rod, Jeter, and the draft.

Rodriguez issues a statement:

Alex Rodriguez is still in Tampa rehabbing his surgically repaired hip, and mentioned on Thursday that he's not ready to discuss his connections with the South Miami Biogenesis clinic and the ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal in Major League Baseball.

A-Rod on Thursday released this statement:

"Myself and others are being mentioned in a media report before the process is even concluded. I would hope this thing would follow the guidelines of our Basic Agreement. I will monitor the situation and comment when appropriate. As I have said previously, I am working out every day to get back on the field and help the Yankees win a championship. I am down here doing my job and working hard and will continue to do so until I'm back playing."

Rodriguez is just one of the suspected 20 players that Major League Baseball is looking at suspending for their involvement with Biogenesis founder and the man at the heart of this ongoing scandal, Tony Bosch.

The New York Daily News reported on Wednesday that Rodriguez denied to give Bosch financial assistance to help in his lawsuit that was filed against him in March by MLB.

"A-Rod refused to pay him what he wanted," a source told the Daily News. "Baseball was worried about that."

Apparently A-Rod denied Bosch the request of hundreds of thousands of dollars. After Rodriguez said no to his over whelming request, Bosch went to MLB and began to cooperate. Because of his cooperation, MLB will drop their lawsuit against Bosch.

Jeter to have his ankle examined:

Derek Jeter will have a CT scan on his injured left ankle and will be examined by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C. Jeter says he hopes to be cleared to increase his baseball activities.

"Can't do anything different until I see the doctor, so absolutely no news," Jeter said. "I wish I could do more, but I can't until I go to the doctor."

Jeter had been working out at Yankee Stadium in New York, but moved his rehab program to Tampa on Thursday, to resume his recovery at the Yankees' minor league complex.

Yanks have a trio of 1st round picks:

It's draft day in the MLB, months of player scouting and evaluating are finally ready to payoff. The Yankees will have three picks in the 1st round (26th, 32nd, 33rd).

Yankees GM Brain Cashman said that the team always drafts the best players at their position and not what the team needs. He said that will be the teams plan for this year as well.

The Yankees haven't really produced a star since drafting Derek Jeter in 1992. Since then they've draft players such as Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, David Phelps, and many more.

Here is a list of every player the Yankees have used their 1st pick on, since 2000. This year, their 1st selection will be the 26th pick.

2000: David Parish, C, University of Michigan, No. 29
2001: John-Ford Griffen, OF, Florida State University, No. 23
2001: Bronson Sardinha, SS, Kamehameha HS (Honolulu, Hawaii), No. 34
2001: Jon Skaggs, P, Rice University, 42
2002: No Pick
2003: Eric Duncan, 3B, Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, NJ), No. 27
2004: Phil Hughes, P, Foothill HS (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 23
2004: Johathan Poterson, C, Chandler HS (Chandler, Ariz.), No. 37
2004: Jeff Marquez, P, Sacramento City College (Sacramento, Calif.), No. 41
2005: CJ Henry, SS, Putnam City HS (Oklahoma City), No. 17
2006: Ian Kennedy, P, USC, No. 21
2006: Joba Chamberlain, P, University of Nebraska, No. 41
2007: Andrew Brackman, P, North Carolina State University, No. 30
2008: *** Gerrit Cole, P, Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.), No. 28
2008: Jeremy Bleich, P, Stanford University, No. 44
2009: Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas High School (Texarkana, Texas), No. 29
2010: Cito Culver, SS, West Irondequoit High School (Irondequoit, New York), No. 32
2011: Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B, Orangewood Christian High School (Maitland, Fla.), No. 51
2012: Ty Hensley, P, Santa Fe High School (Edmond, Oklahoma), No. 30

***Did not sign. (This list came from ESPN New York, Yankees Blog)

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