Yankees are ready to exhale the second MLB delivers the death blow.
If Biogenesis-gate has taught us one all important thing it’s that Major League Baseball has finally grown a back bone and isn’t playing around when it comes to players and performance enhancing drugs.
USA Today dropped the expected, but still shocking bombshell that MLB is very serious about hitting Arod with a lifetime ban.
While no announcement is expected until Friday, Rodriguez and his attorney, David Cornwell are ready to fight any suspension doled down no matter how severe. If Rodriguez is banned for life, MLB will have Article XII (B) of the CBA on their side, which states, via USA Today:
“Players may be disciplined for just cause for conduct that is materially detrimental or materially prejudicial to the best interests of baseball, including, but not limited to, engaging in conduct in violation of federal, state or local law.”
Another case MLB can make is that in addition to lying about drug use Arod lied to MLB officials while attempting to sabotage their investigation. When asked about a possible lifetime ban union executive director Michael Weiner said via email: “I can neither confirm nor deny.
If Arod appeals any suspension it would be heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz and would not occur until at least September. Should MLB suspend Rodriguez under the CBA, he would be ineligible to play until Horowitz’s decision.
Rodriguez is about to pay the true price for being a dirty player. Sad day not only for him but for the sport.