Alex Rodriguez May Get Suspended From Baseball For Life

Rumors of an Alex Rodriguez suspension for using performance enhancing drugs have been spiraling for months thanks to the seizing of records at Biogenesis, a long rumored performance enhancing drugs distribution point, but over the past few days, we finally got our first real taste of what that suspension might entail. Supposedly, if the New York Yankees third baseman does not accept a temporary ban for the rest of this season and the entirety of next season, commissioner Bud Selig will push for the aging slugger to be forever kicked out of baseball.

According to The New York Daily News, sources close to the Major League Baseball investigation are saying documentation was uncovered that points to A-Rod using steroids during at least the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons. That alleged usage, coupled with his own admission that he used PEDs for at least a three year period back in 2001 seems to represent a pattern of habitual rule breaking. Selig hasn’t spoken publically about his thinking on the matter, but one would imagine that’s why he’s allegedly pushing so much harder against Rodriguez than say Ryan Braun who admitted his mistake and was promptly suspended the rest of the year.

Sitting out the rest of this season and next season would likely force the thirty-eight-year-old Rodriguez to retire. He would also forfeit all of his salary for the next two years, however, he could potentially collect the 60 or so million dollars he’s owed for the final three years of his contract by placing himself on the permanently unable to play list. If he did that, he likely wouldn’t be able to collect it all, but with insurance settlements, he would pick up a very solid portion of it.

Once upon a time, Rodriguez was widely expected to end his career as the all-time home run champion and one of the most popular players of all-time. Unfortunately, his career didn’t work out that way. He signed with the New York Yankees in 2004 and despite one World Series Championship in which he played well in 2009, fans in the Big Apple never warmed up to him. He quickly earned the reputation as a playoff choker, and negative stories about his alleged complaining and carousing have been newspaper fodder for years. Maybe he’ll accept the ban in an attempt to atone for his alleged sins and collect his money down the road. Maybe he’ll fight it out and hope an arbitrator will rule in his favor. Either way, it’s highly unlikely he’ll make many new fans.

MLB’s steroid culture has been an embarrassment for a long time. Because of Rodriguez’s personality and his talent, he’s often the lightning rod for criticism, but all of the problems with performance enhancing drugs didn’t start with him. If all goes according to plan, however, testing procedures will get more and more rigid moving forward, and eventually, suspensions like this will be a thing of the past.

We’ll keep you updated on this A-Rod situation.