Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez learned his fate Saturday afternoon after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz announced that he would reduce A-Rod’s suspension from 211 to 162 games essentially meaning he’s out for the entire 2014 regular and post seasons.
Rodriguez, who’s under contract until 2017 continues to insist he hasn’t been involved in PED usage despite being linked to the Biogenesis lab. A-Rod is also expected to continue his fight in Federal Court.
Arod insists he did not use PEDS and believes a federal court will overturn the 162 game ruling that could end #Yankees career
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2014
The original suspension would’ve knocked Rodriguez out of for the entire 2014 season plus some of the 2015 season as well. However Rodriguez’s full season ban temporarily ensures that the Yankees can take back some of the $26 million dollars that’s owed to him this season.
Avalanche of text messages between #AROD, Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch persuaded arbitrator to hit Rodriguez with full-season ban
— NYDN Sports I-Team (@NYDNSportsITeam) January 11, 2014
Rodriguez also issued the following statement (via ESPN):
“The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one. This is one man’s decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable. This injustice is MLB’s first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review.
I have been clear that I did not use performance enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline, or violate the Basic Agreement or the Joint Drug Agreement in any manner, and in order to prove it I will take this fight to federal court. I am confident that when a Federal Judge reviews the entirety of the record, the hearsay testimony of a criminal whose own records demonstrate that he dealt drugs to minors, and the lack of credible evidence put forth by MLB, that the judge will find that the panel blatantly disregarded the law and facts, and will overturn the suspension. No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with, and I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players’ contracts and rights are protected through the next round of bargaining, and that the MLB investigation and arbitration process cannot be used against others in the future the way it is currently being used to unjustly punish me.
I will continue to work hard to get back on the field and help the Yankees achieve the ultimate goal of winning another championship. I want to sincerely thank my family, all of my friends, and of course the fans and many of my fellow MLB players for the incredible support I received throughout this entire ordeal.”
Despite though Rodriguez’s claims that he’d continue his fight in Federal Court, ESPN’s T.J. Quinn believes it’s unlikely he succeeds at that level.
A-Rod says he will sue in federal court. Legal experts say very unlikely to be successful. Courts do not like to interfere w arbitration.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) January 11, 2014
