Report: A-Rod Prepared To Fight Arbitrator's Decision In Court
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Alex Rodriguez is ready to round third and head for court if he doesn't like an independent arbitrator's decision on his 211-game suspension, according to the New York Daily News.
"The papers are all ready," a source told the Daily News. "They are just waiting for the announcement."
The Yankees slugger has been appealing the ban handed down Aug. 5 by Major League Baseball under the joint drug agreement. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is expected to announce his ruling this month -- in fact, his decision to uphold, overturn or alter A-Rod's suspension could come any day.
A-Rod would "likely accept" a suspension in the ballpark of 65 games, the Daily News reported. Anything more than that and Rodriguez's team is expected to seek an injunction to keep the third baseman on the field while he fights the ruling in court, the paper added.
Twelve players accepted 50-game suspensions related to MLB's investigation into Biogenesis and performance-enhancing drugs. Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun served a 65-game ban.
Rodriguez has denied using PEDs since his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03.
A-Rod, who has filed a separate lawsuit against the league, effectively put an end to his grievance hearing Nov. 20, when he walked out of the proceedings after Horowitz refused to order testimony from Commissioner Bud Selig. He would then make his way to the WFAN studios in Manhattan for a bombshell interview with radio host Mike Francesa.
Rodriguez, 38, has four years and $86 million remaining on his contract. He will cost the Yankees $25 million if he plays the entire 2014 season.
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