Report: MLB Prepared To Ban Alex Rodriguez For Life
BOSTON (CBS) -- USA Today reports that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is prepared to ban Alex Rodriguez for life, and suspend about eight other players before the weekend.
Rodriguez, 38, has been at the center of MLB's investigation into Biogenesis, a clinic in Florida where Tony Bosch reportedly administered banned performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players. Former National League MVP Ryan Braun was suspended for the final 65 games of the 2013 season for his admitted involvement with the clinic.
A source tells USA Today, "MLB will contend that, in addition to lying about performance-enhancing drug use, Rodriguez lied to MLB officials while attempting to sabotage their investigation."
Rodriguez is expected to appeal any suspension he is levied.
In 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids during his time in Texas from 2001-03, but he said in an interview with ESPN that his Yankee years were "clean."
"I've played the best baseball of my career since," Rodriguez told ESPN in 2009. "I've won two MVPs since and I've never felt better in my career. Of that I'm very proud of. ... I was stupid for three years. I was very, very stupid. ... The more honest we can all be, the quicker we can get baseball [back] to where it needs to be. When you take this gorilla and this monkey off your back, you realize that honesty is the only way. I'm finally beginning to grow up. I'm pretty tired of being stupid and selfish, you know, about myself. The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I'm glad it's coming out today."
Rodriguez is in the sixth year of his 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. He has not played a game this year due to a hip injury and then a quad injury during his rehab outings. He's made more than $300 million in his career, and he currently ranks fifth in baseball history with 647 home runs and seventh with 1,950 RBIs. He's been named to 14 All-Star Games, he's won three MVP Awards and he won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009.
