UPDATE 8/2, 3:20 p.m.
The deadline for players to tell MLB if they will accept suspensions is 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, with an announcement to be made on Monday.
The Biogenesis guys, including A-Rod, have been given a deadline of 6 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday to settle their cases. Announcements Monday.
— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) August 2, 2013
UPDATE 8/2, 9:45 a.m.
After a
weeklong buildup that MLB Biogenesis suspensions would be announced by today (Friday), it seems that will not be the case. According to the Associated Press and others, Monday is the new deadline for players to accept a deal on a suspension, or else face the full brunt of the Major League Baseball legal team.
After this weekend, teams will have slightly more than 50 games remaining - the minimum suspension under the league's drug policy. Most suspensions the league has planned are said to be for the remainder of the season, so to do so when teams have less than 50 games remaining would render them pointless from a punishment perspective.
According to the A.P., baseball will have two announcements of suspensions before the end of the day on Monday. One would be of players who accepted deals and will likely sit out the season, the other a list of players who did not and will likely challenge their suspensions.
UPDATE 7/31, 11:00 a.m.
Major League officials met with the Player's Union on Tuesday to inform them of the upcoming suspensions, expected to be announced by the end of the week. The Union expects to let the league officially know Wednesday or Thursday whether anyone will appeal their suspensions, expected to be 50 games for most involved.
UPDATE 7/30, 4:45 p.m.
Major League Baseball threatened to double the suspensions of any player who does not accept a "plea deal" in the Biogenesis investigation, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan.
Suspensions are expected to be announced within the next 72 hours, with the baseline suspension being 50 games, with 10-game penalties tacked on for various transgressions such as a lack of cooperation with baseball's investigation.
MLB threats to potentially double suspensions for players who did not take plea deals made them attractive option. Could come within 72 hrs.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2013
According to Passan, almost every player that will be suspended has agreed to a "plea deal" of sorts, which allows them to enter next season with a clean slate, rather than face the threat of a 100-plus game suspension should they not cooperate. Only one player is outright refusing: Alex Rodriguez.
It appears Rodriguez will fight MLB tooth-and-nail, despite an alleged bounty of evidence. It has been widely reported that baseball is looking to suspend Rodriguez for the remainder of this season and all of next year - more than 200 games. If A-Rod continues to refuse to cooperate, MLB may seek a lifetime ban. That, however, would likely spark outrage in the players union, who have been very cooperative throughout the Biogenesis investigation.
UPDATE 7/30, 1:35 p.m.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that MLB will not suspend players tied to Biogenesis who have already tested positive and served 50 games as a result, such as A's pitcher Bartolo Colon, Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera and Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal.
Suspensions are still expected later this week.
UPDATE 7/29, 10:10 a.m.
Major League Baseball is expected to announce their suspensions in the Biogenesis case later this week, according to the New York Post. The league had always wanted to announce all 15-plus suspensions at the same time, but went early with Ryan Braun's because he was willing to accept his 65-game suspension without appeal.
Reports indicate that most suspensions will be for the remained of the 2013 season - about 50 games for most teams. This will provide incentive for players to accept the penalty and not appeal, so that they can start off clean next year. If they choose to appeal the suspension and lose, MLB will roll their penalty over into the start of next year as well.
Alex Rodriguez, however, could be facing worse. His suspension is reported to be the remainder of this season and all of next, a total of more than 200 games. This, effectively, would end Rodriguez's career. By the time opening day of 2015 rolls around, A-Rod will be 39 and will turn 40 during that season. He will be coming off hip surgery and have not played in the MLB for two full seasons.
That would fall in line with the reported lifetime ban that baseball was seeking for Rodriguez. The league is said to have eliminated that possibility, however, as Rodriguez would have an excellent chance at winning an appeal on such a harsh punishment.
UPDATE 7/24, 11:00 a.m.
Attention has now shifted to the seemingly eminent suspension of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, who could be facing a lifetime ban as a third-time offender. A-Rod has never publicly tested positive, but did admit - under massive public and media pressure - to using steroids in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with the Texas Rangers. Major League Baseball apparently has an awful lot more evidence than just that admission they plan to use.
Rodriguez has yet to play this season while rehabbing from an offseason hip surgery, and the Yankees seem to be doing all they can to keep him away from their big league club.
While Braun struck a plea-deal, in essence, with MLB for his 65-game suspension, Rodriguez is said to be uninterested in doing the same, instead planning to appeal whatever the league hands down to him.
ORIGINAL POST:
More than a month after news came to light of MLB's plans to suspend - heavily - players proven to be connected with the South Florida drug clinic known as "Biogenesis," the league brought the first hammer down, suspending Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun for the remainder of the season (65 games) on Monday.
Ed. note: There figures to be more suspensions to come, so check back here as we continue to update this post.
Biogenesis is said to have supplied several prominent (Braun, Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez) and less-prominent players with banned substances such as human growth hormone and others.
Early in June, the bombshell dropped that MLB had obtained the cooperation of Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch. The league was building its case and planned to levy massive suspensions based on Bosch's evidence - up to 100 games for some players.
Finally, they got one of them.
Braun had been accused of using on countless occurrences before, most notably when he actually tested positive following his N.L. MVP season in 2011. But that test was thrown out due to improper testing procedures. He had repeatedly denied his guilt to the media, the public, fans on twitter (@RyanBraun_8), you name it. Here is his last tweet from almost two years ago.
And here is what he had to say on Monday in a statement:
“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.”
Again, more to come...
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