The gavel came down hard on Alex Rodriguez on Monday, but the New York Yankees third baseman isn’t going down without a fight.
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced Rodriguez has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season – including the playoffs – and the entire 2014 season for violations of the Joint Drug and Prevention and Treatment Program, as well as the Basic Agreement, for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.
However, Rodriguez is expected to appeal the suspension and will be able to play for the Yankees until the completion of the appeals process. He was expected to start for the Yankees at the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Twelve other players, including Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, accepted 50-game suspensions Monday and will sit out the remainder of the 2013 regular season.
Rodriguez’s suspension is longer due to the league’s belief he used banned substances over the course of multiple seasons and lied to investigators when previously questioned.
In a statement regarding Rodriguez’s punishment, Selig said: “Rodriguez’s discipline under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years. Rodriguez’s discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner’s investigation. The suspension, which will become effective on Thursday, August 8th, will cover 211 Championship Season games and any 2013 Postseason games in which Rodriguez otherwise would have been eligible to play.”
The 12 players suspended for 50 games without pay and who have chosen not to appeal are:
–Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Antonio Bastardo
–San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera;
–New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli;
–Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz;
–Padres pitcher Fautino De Los Santos, who is currently on the roster of the Double-A San Antonio Missions of the Texas League;
–Houston Astros pitcher Sergio Escalona, who is currently of the roster of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League;
–Yankees outfielder Fernando Martinez, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League;
–Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League;
–Free agent pitcher Jordan Norberto;
–Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta;
–New York Mets outfielder Cesar Puello, who is currently on the roster of the Double-A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League; and
–Mets infielder/outfielder Jordany Valdespin, who is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League.
Norberto’s suspension will be effective immediately once he signs with another Major League organization. All other suspensions are effective immediately.
In a statement, MLB said: “Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera, Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon and Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, all of whom already have served 50-game suspensions as a result of their violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program stemming from their connections to Biogenesis, will not receive additional discipline.
“Major League Baseball’s investigation found no violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by either Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez or Baltimore Orioles infielder Danny Valencia.