Breaking News: Yankees’ A-Rod Would Consider Lesser Ban
By Billy Brost
Sep 22, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) tosses his bat after striking out in the fourth inning of MLB gameagainst the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
As the day draws closer for arbitrator Fredric Horowitz to hand down his decision in the Alex Rodriguez case, a source close to A-Rod has stated that the controversial third baseman of the New York Yankees would consider taking a lesser suspension from Major League Baseball rather than continuing to fight his case with an injunction.
Rodriguez and his legal team have intended to file an appeal is his suspension goes beyond 100 games. A-Rod if given a shorter suspension, may decide to accept what he is given, rather than continue paying big dollars in legal fees with the intention of returning to the Yankees during the second half of the 2014 season. Rodriguez had stated back in November, prior to leaving the courtroom in anger and disgust, that he believes he shouldn’t serve one inning of a suspension.
The source who is familiar with A-Rod’s legal team’s thought process, states that “…Alex will have some things to think about” in regards to weighing the financial burden of continuing his fight with an injunction versus accepting the lesser-game suspension, serving it, and returning to the field.
Major League Baseball had originally handed Rodriguez a 211-game ban for his involvement with Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in Florida who had A-Rod’s name on their client list, and whose founder, Anthony Bosch, has worked with MLB to avoid federal prosecution for his involvement in distributing illegal substances. The source also believes that the continuing mental pressure of fighting his case is taking it’s toll on A-Rod, and that he just wants it to be done and over with, saying “Alex might decide to take his medicine and move on.” It is expected that Horowitz could announce his decision as early as Friday, January 10th, but neither MLB nor the MLBPA has commented on when they expect to hear the verdict.
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