A-Rod and Biogenesis: A Different Perspective

I aim to do something that no other writer seems have done. That is to describe the interests of the three main groups – Major League Baseball, Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees – in this topical situation, without passing judgement. I want you, the reader, to come to your own conclusions.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

MLB would like nothing more for the performance enhancing drugs (PED) situation to come to a conclusion.

For a decade, if not longer it has been a dark cloud over baseball. The commissioner Bud Selig is determined to do everything within his powers, to clean the game up of it.

This does however clash with MLB’s approach in the late 90’s–early 2000’s, when offensive numbers, not only went through the roof but flew into outer space. Players such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds were setting new single season home run records on a year by year basis. With the chase for these records and even seemingly average players hitting home runs by the bucket load, came renewed fan interest, which had decreased badly due to the players strike of 1994.

Earlier this year in March, Porter Fisher, a former associate of the Miami based Biogenesis health clinic, passed documents, to a newspaper in the state of Florida. The documents contained a list of players said to have ordered PEDs from the aforementioned clinic.

With this list the commissioner saw an opportunity to make a statement, about how PEDS were not acceptable in baseball, and those who broke the rules would suffer the consequences. He wanted to leave no doubts, about what MLB’s stance on PED’s was, once and for all.

The two biggest names on this list were Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun. After MLB caught up with Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch, and agreed a deal with him, he was able to corroborate more evidence that had come to light.

This would lead to Ryan Braun accepting a plea deal resulting in a 65 game suspension last month. As for Rodriguez, MLB is reported to have more evidence linking him to PEDs, than they had for Braun, as reported by ESPN’s TJ Quinn.

After attempts between A-Rod and MLB to negotiate a plea bargain went spectacularly wrong, the commissioner decided to hit the Yankees star with a 211 game suspension spanning the rest of this baseball season and the whole of the 2014 season.

There were rumours, that at one point, Selig was going to use the “best interest of baseball clause” in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to ban Rodriguez for life. Selig, is also rumoured to have decided against this action due to the likely souring of relations it would cause between MLB and the players union.

Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod has achieved way more than most would hope to achieve in the game of Baseball, he sits 5th (647) in home runs all-time, 6th (1,951) in RBI’s all-time, has won a world series title, 3 MVP awards, and accumulated 14 All-Star game appearances.

Rodriguez has been linked to PED’s since the early 2000’s. He admitted to using PED’s between 2001–2003. PED’s were not illegal in baseball in those years. A-Rod has stated that he has been clean since those years.

In 2010, Rodriguez was reported to have received treatment from Dr. Anthony Galea. Dr. Galea is under investigation by both the Canadian police and the FBI for distributing human growth hormone, although he stated that he only supplied A-Rod with anti-inflammatories.

It must be noted, that from 2004 onwards, Rodriguez has never failed a PED test.

For him, there is more than his legacy and reputation at stake. He has over $90million left on a contract that runs through 2017.

It has been reported that Rodriguez did offer to take a 100-game suspension, then retire from baseball and walk away with the full total amount of what he was due to be paid on his contract.

A-Rod’s supporters point to the fact that this would be his first violation of the CBA drugs rules, which normally means a 50 game ban. MLB, however, alleges to have evidence of Rodriguez not only ordering PEDs from Biogenesis, but also impeding the investigation and also encouraging other players to go to the clinic and, hence the record suspension. Although Rodriguez, can play, while his suspension is under appeal.

His supporters also point to the fact that, Braun lied to MLB about taking PEDs after the 2011 season and only received a 65 game suspension.

The New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have sent mixed signals. At times defending A-Rod, whilst also at times seeming like they would be happy to relieve themselves of their third baseman’s hefty contract.

On the field, there is no doubt they need him, with a struggling offense, especially at third base. Of the numerous players the Yankees have plugged in there, none have managed to even put up a .700 OPS in 2013. Alex Rodriguez by contrast put up a .783 OPS in 2012.

Off the field, New York is committed to getting their payroll under the luxury tax limit ($189million) as soon as possible. Dropping A-Rods contract, would be a big help in that endeavour, which led Alex last week to accuse both the Yankees and MLB of colluding together, to make sure he had a long term ban (possibly even a lifetime ban) which would benefit MLB, and would also mean the Yankees would not have to pay the rest his salary.

As for other parties, Michael Weiner head of the MLB Players Association has made it clear that they will support Rodriguez throughout the appeals process.

With the appeal process possibly not likely to possibly be concluded until November, the one judgement/prediction I will make, is there are still many twists and turns to come.