Major League Baseball Drops Lawsuit Against Biogenesis in PED Scandal

Biogenesis Lab (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

It appears that Major League Baseball has dropped its lawsuit against Biogenesis, a now defunct anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Florida. Coral Gables is located just southwest of downtown Miami. The clinic was at the center of baseball's most recent "steroid scandal." Players began receiving suspensions in 2012 for their involvement with Biogenesis, the culmination of which was the historic 211-game suspension of New York Yankees' star third baseman Alex Rodriguez on August 5, 2013.

Of course as we know, Rodriguez appealed his suspension which was reduced to 162-games plus any 2014 post season games. Though the actual story about the Biogenesis lab was broken by the Miami New Times in January 2013, players connected to the clinic were being suspended near the end of the 2012 season.

The first of the major league players suspended in 2012 for 50 games each were Oakland Athletics' pitcher Bartolo Colon, San Francisco Giants' outfielder Melky Cabrera and San Diego Padres' catcher Yamani Grandal. Both Colon and Cabrera began serving their 50-game suspensions in 2012 with Colon's lasting until the first five games of the 2013 season.

But when the story broke in January 2013, 14 more players were connected to Biogenesis and proceedings for the suspensions began. Ryan Braun, former National League MVP and Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder, was the first to be suspended for 65-games or what was the remainder of the 2013 season. Braun reportedly made a deal with MLB when he was shown the evidence they had against him.

Ryan Braun (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

After that, 12 other players were handed out 50-game suspensions that were not eligible for appeal. The list of players included Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Johnny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers and Francisco Cerevelli of the New York Yankees. Two players on the list Gio Gonzalez, of the Washington Nationals and Danny Valencia, then a player for the Boston Red Sox, were among the original list of players named, but both were cleared of any wrongdoing.

The 13 player suspensions are the most to be imposed simultaneously in the history of organized baseball. The previous record was in 1919 when eight of the 1919 Red Sox, later remembered as the "Black Sox," were given lifetime bans for throwing the World Series under former federal judge and the first Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis....

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A-Rod Offered Job to Coach Young Athletes in Connecticut. Should he be the one Mentoring the Stars of the Future?

Apparently not everyone dislikes disgraced New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez these days. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season and post season for his involvement of the Biogenesis scandal. Rodriguez has been practically shunned by the players union who want him out and the entire baseball world has lost respect of the once heralded slugger. It’s sad but true.

Apparently though the people in Torrington, Connecticut do not have a problem with A-Rod, in fact they think it would be a great idea for him to work as an assistant coach for the Torrington Titans who are part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL).  Titan's General Manager Joey Abis said that they have not yet reached out to Rodriguez with their offer but they have one ready. Abis said,

We can offer him $5,000 for the season. The Donut Station has offered him free coffee and donuts for the entire summer.

That's not exactly what the former Yankees star is used to receiving as compensation for his services but it might help him to clean up his image. In a statement Titans manager, Dan McNamara said,

I see him being more a hitting coach. I’ve been in professional baseball for the past six years as a player and a coach. I can teach the players about getting there. A-Rod can show them they way to the big leagues, it’s priceless. To be honest, there is a lot of bad going on in his life and we’re trying to give him some good.

There would be benefits for the city as well said Abis,

Torrington is phenomenal, having him around would be great for local businesses, people from all over the country would come out.

About people coming out to see A-Rod, that may be a stretch but being that he will always be a celebrity, Abis just could be correct. Even though Rodriguez has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs (PED) for a three year period while with the Texas Rangers and has been linked to the Biogensis scandal Abis told the press,

No way steroids will be in our clubhouse or in our league.

McNamara would even let Rodriquez workout with the team to stay in shape as he is still eligible to return to Major League Baseball in 2015. All of this is an interesting development - A-Rod, now at the forefront of PED use in baseball would be mentoring and coaching younger athletes. One can only hope that he has learned his lesson and would be ready to try and turn over a new leaf however unlikely that may seem.

Calls to A-Rod's agent, Dan Lozano and the MVP Sports Group were not returned regarding this recent development.

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Alex Rodriguez Suspended For Historic 162 Games; Federal Court Appeal Next

According to Major League Baseball Network the decision in the case of Yankees’ star Alex Rodriguez’s involvement with the Biogensis performance enhancing drug (PED) scandal has finally been made official. The Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball announced arbitrator Fredric Horowitz’s decision to suspend A-Rod for an unprecedented 162 games including all post season games. Even though the suspension was reduced from an unprecedented 211 games to 162 games.  This is the longest PED related suspension in baseball history.

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A-Rod Decision Expected Any Minute; Yankees' Star May Be Open to Taking Reduced Ban

It’s been approximately five months since Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued an unprecedented 211-game suspension to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for allegedly violating the league’s Joint Drug Agreement and interfering with the league’s investigation. The decision, being made by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, is due any day now. According to sources it could happen at any minute.

Shortly after the ban was issued the MLB Player’s Association (MLBPA) filed a grievance against Rodriguez’s suspension saying it was without “just cause.” A-Rod, who has never failed a drug test, has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his tenure with the Rangers between 2001 and 2003 but not since the league’s Joint Drug Agreement was implemented. The 211 game ban is the most of any player since Miguel Tejada received 105 games in early 2013 for amphetamines. The suspension is broken down into 50 games for violating the Joint Drug Agreement and 111 days for interfering with the investigation of the Biogenesis lab in Florida.

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