In an extremely drawn out process, third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 162 gamaes (the entire season). A-Rod had appealed the suspension, which had allowed him to play through last season due to the rules of the appeal process. This decision in all likelihood could end his career, as hip injuries have plagued him for years. This suspension is not a surprise, as many fans have been expecting the ban for months now, and finally Yankees fans have an answer.
This suspension helps the Yankees from a financial stand point immensely. This takes ARod’s $27.5 million owed off the books and allows the flexibility needed to go all out and sign Japanese superstar pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka could demand around $17 million per year, and with this money now not owed, it’s possible that Yankees now push even harder than before. According to different reports, Rodriguez will take the decision to federal court, as he still insists he never took PEDs. Which is great news, because what the sports world needs is more ARod drama.
Editor’s Note: Per BEN KERR, LWOS LEGAL ANALYST.
While this gives some amount of certainty, it may not be the end of the story. There continue to be rumblings that A-Rod will seek the help of the court system in further appealing his suspension. While I believe that it would be unlikely that a court would hear his case given the collectively bargained nature of the CBA and the Joint Drug Agreement, it can not be said with 100% certainty that this route would not work. It certainly will be an interesting case, not just for sports fans, but certainly something that legal scholars in the labour field will keep their eye on.
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