In the final blow from the Biogenesis scandal, Major League Baseball has suspended Yankees’ third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, through the end of the 2014 season. The punishment extends 211 regular season games and would also include any postseason opportunities this year or next year for the former All-Star.
A-Rod’s punishment came last on a busy Monday full of 12 other suspensions, including Jhonny Peralta and Nelson Cruz, two players on teams currently in stiff competition for playoff spots.
Detroit proactively traded for Red Sox prospect, Jose Iglesias, at the trade deadline in anticipation while the Rangers will consider Jurickson Profar for the outfield or calling up someone from the minor league system. Waiver options are still in play as well.
His suspension from baseball is effective on Thursday, August 8th, and he will be allowed to play while he has officially appealed until his arbitration hearing which should take place within three weeks of the start of his suspension.
Essentially, A-Rod might be able to play through the rest of the month and then is expected to be suspended until Opening Day, 2015.
Punishment has been handed out through both the joint Drug Prevention and Treatment agreement and the Basic Agreement. The former is on the grounds Rodriguez allegedly used steroids of various forms over a course of multiple years since his first confession in 2009. The latter is based on the accusation Rodriguez tried to interfere with the investigation.
For everyone involved, A-Rod’s suspension is particularly interesting. It could mark the end of a career for someone once thought to go down the greatest home run hitter of all time, although Rodriguez has repeatedly been reported to claim he would come back so as not to lose the remaining money on his contract.
It could mean the end of his time in pinstripes since being out of the game essentially two years for a 40-year-0ld infielder could mean he either can’t cut it as a major leaguer or the Yankees simply rid themselves of his roster spot and work on a settlement for his contract.
For the Yankees, this is an all-around victory. Short of banning A-Rod from the game and ridding themselves of his contract permanently, this is the next best option. Rodriguez gets to help provide a boost to the offense for a few weeks in August, New York only has to pay him for three weeks of salary and his suspension will cover the vaunted 2014 season, which means the Yankees can plan around it and will not be responsible for over $22 million in payroll.
As has been documented, 2014 is the one season New York is conscious of its payroll and has self imposed a salary cap. With A-Rod off the books, it’s essentially a much easier fix to do whatever is needed next season to help rebuild a team unlikely to make the playoffs and to come in under $189 million in 2014 payroll.
For Yankees’ haters it’s an especially bitter outcome. Depending on the level of hatred for Rodriguez, they do not get to see him banned for life, have found themselves rooting for A-Rod throughout this process and they are aware the Yankees get a break on payroll.
Buck Showalter and his army of like-minded individuals will have to deal with the fact the investigation was run by Major League Baseball, the Yankees did whatever they were asked and they did essentially catch a break at no guidance of their own.
Of course, all of this hinges on the outcome from the appeal A-Rod will file, as he is the only one of the 14 total players who will appeal the decision. The Yankees also had Francisco Cervelli suspended today, though he is out for the season with injury and has not played since April. Fernando Martinez, a minor league former Mets’ prospect in the Yankees’ system, has also been suspended for 50 games.
New York could have Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter and Rodriguez all in the lineup for the first time this season by the end of the week as it attempts to get back into the playoff picture.
A picture Rodriguez will not be a part of.
