MLB Suspends 13 Players Following Biogenesis Investigation
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced the suspension of thirteen players. These players were suspended in light of evidence that has surfaced from MLB’s investigation into the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic.
The full list of players is as follows:
- Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees
- Nelson Cruz – Texas Rangers
- Jhonny Peralta – Detroit Tigers
- Everth Cabrera – San Diego Padres
- Francisco Cervelli – New York Yankees
- Fernando Martinez – New York Yankees
- Cesar Puello – New York Mets
- Jordan Norberto – Free Agent
- Fautino de los Santos – Free Agent
- Antonio Bastardo – Philadelphia Phillies
- Jordany Valdespin – New York Mets
- Sergio Escalona – Houston Astros
- Jesus Montero – Seattle Mariners
Most of the players listed above will be suspended for 50 games, meaning their 2013 baseball season ended yesterday (5th August).
The key exception is Alex Rodriguez. The commissioner’s office claims to have received evidence that Alex, did more than just order performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) from the Miami clinic.
According to reports, Rodriguez is said to have advertised Biogenesis to other players as well as attempting to impede MLB’s investigation. For these reasons, Bud Selig felt that A-Rod should be punished more than the other aforementioned players.
Alex will be suspended for the rest of this Baseball season as well as the whole of the 2014 MLB season. In total this amounts to 211 games. As rumours of a lengthy ban surfaced last week, Rodriguez had already stated his intention to appeal against any kind of a long ban.
Danny Valencia and Gio Gonzalez, had earlier in the season been linked to Biogenesis, however, further investigations had led to findings, that neither player had violated, MLB’s PED’s prohibition rules.
Ryan Braun had already made a deal last month with MLB, accepting a 65 game ban, concluding his 2013 season.
Bartolo Colon (Oakland A’s), Melky Cabrera (Toronto Blue Jays) and Yasmani Grandal (San Diego Padres) had already recently each served a 50 game suspension, so it was decided they would not be punished again.
Aside from A-Rod, out of the other twelve players suspended the biggest names are Nelson Cruz and Jhonny Peralta.
The Texas Rangers currently lie two-and-a-half games behind the Oakland A’s in the AL West and half a game out of the second wild card spot.
Cruz will be a huge loss for Texas. He leads his team in home runs (27) and RBIs (76), is second in .OPS with .841 and third in walks (35). In the past, the Rangers were better equipped to survive without him. This 2013 Texas team, however, is short on power. Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton combined for 67 home runs and 184 RBI’s in 2012 for the Rangers, now ply their trade with different teams. With the exception of Adrian Beltre, no other Texas player, has more than 16 home runs or 50 RBIs.
Despite injuries Texas does still have a very capable pitching rotation and bullpen, but will have to look more towards small ball to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Jhonny Peralta has been a revelation for the Detroit Tigers in 2013. He has provided elite offensive production at shortstop which for the most part is considered a primarily defensive position. Most shortstops would be happy to finish a season with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs which Peralta has already. His total of 29 doubles is the most on the Tigers team, and his .822 OPS ranks third on the team ahead of the likes of Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder.
Detroit had prepared itself for the potential suspension of Peralta, by acquiring prospect shortstop Jose Iglesias from the Boston Red Sox as part of the three team Jake Peavy trade (to be featured soon in my Trade deadline part 2 column). Iglesias will not equal, Peralta’s offense, but will be defensively superior, ESPN’s Keith Law rates Jose as the 2nd best defensive shortstop in MLB. One of the Tigers’ few weaknesses is their infield defense, so he will be a welcome defensive upgrade.
After being informed of his suspension Peralta stated: “In spring of 2012, I made a terrible mistake that I deeply regret, I apologise to everyone that I have hurt as a result of my mistake, including my teammates, the Tigers organisation, the great fans in Detroit, Major League Baseball and my family. I take full responsibility for my actions, have no excuses for my lapse in judgement and I accept my suspension.”
Cruz’s response to questions about his PED use was that he had, used them to aid his recovery from a stomach infection during the 2011–2012 baseball offseason. He commented: “By the time I was properly diagnosed and treated, I had lost 40 pounds. Just weeks before I was to report to Spring Training in 2012, I was unsure whether I would be physically able to play. Faced with this situation, I made an error in judgement that I deeply regret, and I accept full responsibility for that error. I should have handled the situation differently, and my illness was no excuse.
“I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Rangers organisation, my teammates and the great Rangers fans, and I am grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the team for the playoffs.”
There had been some who wondered how seriously MLB would chase after and eventually punish PED offenders, but today was an indication that there was indeed a “bite” to go with Bud Selig’s “bark”. The commissioner did make sure to re-iterate his intentions and motivations, as part of a statement he released, he commented.
“As a social institution with enormous social responsibilities, baseball must do everything it can to maintain integrity, fairness and a level playing field. We are committed to working together with players to reiterate that performance-enhancing drugs will not be tolerated in our game.”
While those intentions are admirable, some might ask, if we will ever see a completely clean game?
It’s that final question, which Selig will want to answer with a definite and profound ‘yes’, before he is ever likely to retire as MLB commissioner and define his lasting legacy.
More to come from Charlie Baldwin on the huge news that has rocked MLB and flung it into the UK national headlines later, focusing specifically on A-Rod – keep checking in with us later this afternoon.
