REPORT: Player’s Union Would Expel A-Rod If It Could

Aug 26, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) reacts to an inside pitch in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

A majority of player representatives within the Major League Baseball Player’s Association believe that suspended New York Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez should be expelled for suing the union, as an organization, they cannot legally pursue getting rid of him according to multiple sources who shared the information with Yahoo! Sports. Up to 40 players who were on a conference call with union leaders, were vehement about ridding themselves of Rodriguez once and for all. One unnamed player was quoted as saying “Can we just kick him out of the union?”

The leaders of the Player’s Union expressed to their membership that this solution was not possible, and even after notifying the players that expulsion was not an option, multiple players insisted this is the best course of action. According the report, not one single player in the union stepped up to defend A-Rod, and another player was quoted as saying:

"That’s what everyone was thinking,” the player said. “We wanted to get on this call and not let him back. [To say,] ‘This is our game and we don’t want you in it."

Rodriguez has filed for a federal injunction against his 162-game suspension that was reduced from the original 211-games issued by Commissioner Bud Selig. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz believed there was more than sufficient evidence to show that A-Rod had not only used PEDs, but had gone out of his way to keep MLB from gaining evidence in their case against him.

While the lawsuit against MLB was expected, some were surprised that Rodriguez filed against the same union that provided support during his appeal. Rodriguez in his legal filings, claims that the Player’s Union “…completely abdicated its responsibility…” in representing him. A-Rod also accused the late Michael Weiner of failing to properly represent his interests as a player who is covered by the collective bargaining agreement. Several players in the union believe that A-Rod has turned on them, as evidenced by his lawsuit against the union. One player was quoted as saying:

"What brought it beyond disappointment was the fact he’s suing the union. Guys understand people make bad decisions, they lie when they’re embarrassed or trying to avoid punishment. Those are human qualities. Guys understand. But what made guys incensed is he would bring a suit against the union."

The union will use the very dues that each player pays–$65 per day during the season to defend itself against the richest member it has ever had in Rodriguez. The problem for both the union and the Yankees, is when and if A-Rod returns in 2015 as a member of the union. Another unnamed player has a hard time believing A-Rod can fit into any clubhouse after the lawsuit, stating:

"When he gets up to bat, you can hit him and hit him hard,” one player on the conference call told Yahoo Sports. “That’s what I’d do. He sued us. Jhonny Peralta and Nelson Cruz screwed up. You know what? They owned up to it. They took their medicine.[Rodriguez] needs to be scared of coming back and facing people he sued. If he can’t fear the wrath of getting kicked out or not being included, he’s going to be forced out."

A-Rod is not winning many supporters now that he and his legal team have added the Player’s Union to the fray of lawsuits and legal rambling in a last-ditch attempt to return to the field in 2014. He has three years remaining on his current contract AFTER he returns from suspension. It could be a very lonely existence for someone who was once one of the more celebrated players in all of baseball.