Alex Rodriguez handed 211-game suspension in Biogenesis case
Alex Rodriguez has been suspended through the 2014 season, but will likely appeal. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
As Major League Baseball suspended 12 players Monday for their connection with the Biogenesis clinic, one notable name remained absent from that list: Alex Rodriguez. Now, one of the game's most decorated and polarizing players faces a suspension that could end his career.
MLB suspended Rodriguez for 211 games. The ban starts Thursday and could stretch to the end of the 2014 season. Rodriguez filed an appeal and will be allowed to play for the Yankees during the appeal process.
SI's Tom Verducci has more on the case:
Rodriguez filed an appeal, which will allow him to play for the Yankees until it is decided by an arbitrator -- likely to cover the remainder of the season. Rodriguez will claim as a first-time violator of the Joint Drug Agreement that he is being treated more harshly than due process should allow. MLB will argue that Rodriguez violated the JDA multiple times, including three years of PED use through the Biogenesis clinic (2010-12) as well as obstructing its investigation.
Rodriguez joins a laundry list of players who were disciplined by MLB on Monday for their connection with Biogenesis. The following players have been suspended 50 games:
- Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz
- Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta
- Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo
- San Diego Padres infielder Everth Cabrera and reliever Fautino de los Santos
- New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and minor league outfielder Fernando Martinez
- Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero
- Houston Astros reliever Sergio Escalona
- New York Mets infielder Jordany Valdespin and minor league outfielder Cesar Puello
- Free agent pitcher Jordan Norberto
