The New York Yankees are playing well on the field, but one of their players is having a rough time off of it after a new ESPN Outside the Lines Report, as news came out that Alex Rodriguez and other players could be suspended up to 100 games for their link to the Biogenesis Clinic.
According to ESPN.com, Major League Baseball is looking at a possible 100-game suspension for A-Rod and other players that were connected to Anthony Bosch and the clinic, including Ryan Braun as well as Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, who is currently on the DL. The players could face up to 100 games, as MLB will say that the players had two offenses by being tied to clinic and possibly lying about it.
ESPNNewYork.com gave some details about the report as well as responses from Yankees players and manager Joe Girardi. The article says that the manager texts and talks to A-Rod once a week, but it's always about baseball and he added that he would wait and see what happens before making any judgments. Girardi said that the MLB will handle any issues and that he checks in with him to see how his rehab is going.
Robinson Cano was linked to the clinic by his the spokeswoman for Robinson Cano's charity, Sonia Cruz, but so far the Yankees have been steadfast in saying that Cano is not a part of the 100 game suspensions by the MLB. Cervelli is currently on the DL and he could end up being suspended 50 games depending on what happens. Braun stated his innocence and said that the truth is already out there and that he is not guilty of it.
The Yankees likely couldn't void the contract for Rodriguez even with the suspension and Girardi said that he would be back around the All-Star break. Mark Teixeira said that he didn't know the details of the story and declined to comment about it, while Cano avoided reporters after the win over Cleveland on Tuesday night at the Stadium. Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that Rodriguez is complicated and the new issues do not make things any clearer for the Yankees or Rodriguez.
The Yankees won against Cleveland 4-3 after a three run home run from Teixeira and an RBI single from Lyle Overbay, who is getting work in the outfield to keep his bat in play. The Yankees have been getting things done without Rodriguez, but this complicates things further for the former superstar.