Report: A-Rod rebuffed Tony Bosch
Updated: June 6, 2013, 12:55 AM ET
By Andrew Marchand | ESPNNewYork.com
NEW YORK -- Biogenesis of America founder Tony Bosch asked Alex Rodriguez for financial help after Major League Baseball filed a lawsuit against him in March, but was denied by the New York Yankees third baseman, according to a New York Daily News report.
The Daily News, citing a source, reported that Rodriguez rebuffed Bosch's request for money -- reportedly hundreds of thousands of dollars. After that, Bosch went to MLB.
"A-Rod refused to pay him what he wanted," the source told the Daily News. "Baseball was worried about that."
In exchange for Bosch's full cooperation, Major League Baseball will drop the lawsuit it filed against Bosch in March, sources told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Tuesday.
While Rodriguez remained silent Wednesday about the latest Biogenesis allegations, two of the biggest names in the New York Yankees' clubhouse offered unconditional support.
Both Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia said they would stand with Rodriguez, no matter the outcome of Major League Baseball's investigation into Rodriguez's alleged performance-enhancing drug use.
"He is my friend," the 43-year-old Rivera said after the Yankees finished their sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. "Besides that, he is my teammate, so definitely it is not easy to be in the cameras and the paper always and being chased. At the same time, all I have to do is support."
Sabathia echoed Rivera's words, saying he and his teammates would have Rodriguez's back.
"I think there would be nothing but love and support in here," Sabathia said.
On Tuesday, OTL reported that MLB might seek a 100-game suspension for Rodriguez. One source said the commissioner's office would make the argument that Rodriguez's connection to Bosch would constitute one offense and Rodriguez's previous statements denying such a relationship would be a second.
In the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association, a first performance-enhancing drug offense results in a 50-game suspension, while a second is 100.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez has reorganized his representation for the case. When the Biogenesis scandal first broke in the Miami New Times in late January, Rodriguez picked famed Miami lawyer Roy Black instead of Pittsburgh-based Jay Reisinger as his main representative, although Reisinger had some involvement.
Sources have told ESPNNewYork.com that Reisinger is now in charge. Reisinger did not return messages seeking comment, while a spokesperson for Rodriguez declined comment.
Reisinger successfully guided Rodriguez through the Anthony Galea investigation. Galea is the Toronto-based doctor who pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of bringing unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone and Actovegin, into the United States. Rodriguez said he never received performance-enhancing drugs from Galea. MLB and law enforcement never proved otherwise.
Reisinger also has represented Sammy Sosa and Andy Pettitte in past PED cases.
Quote:Players Under Scrutiny
Major League Baseball will seek to suspend about 20 players connected to Biogenesis, OTL has learned. Among the players who might ultimately face discipline:
Player Team
Ryan Braun Brewers
Everth Cabrera Padres
Melky Cabrera Blue Jays
Francisco Cervelli Yankees
Bartolo Colon Athletics
Nelson Cruz Rangers
Fautino de los Santos Free agent
Gio Gonzalez* Nationals
Yasmani Grandal Padres
Fernando Martinez Astros
Jesus Montero Mariners
Jordan Norberto Free agent
Jhonny Peralta Tigers
Cesar Puello** Mets
Alex Rodriguez Yankees
* Sources told ESPN that Gonzalez received only legal substances ** minor leaguer, not a member of the MLB Players Association
Besides Reisinger, Rodriguez has hired a new public relations team to handle the case, bringing in Ron Berkowitz, who has worked closely with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, among others.
While Rivera and Sabathia spoke at length about A-Rod, Robinson Cano did not show up in the Yankees' clubhouse to address the media for the second consecutive day. A woman who has worked for Cano, Sonia Cruz, appears in Biogenesis documentation, OTL reported. Cruz has been described as a spokeswoman for Cano's charities.
She said she went to the anti-aging clinic for personal dieting advice. The documentation that has been uncovered related to Cruz was for only hundreds of dollars.
On Tuesday, a senior Yankees official told ESPNNewYork.com that the team does not believe Cano is in any jeopardy.
Rivera said he hadn't talked with Rodriguez in more than a week. The two have never spoken about the Biogenesis allegations. Rivera said it is not his place to bring up such a conversation. He did say he would listen if Rodriguez sought him out.
"That is like your family," Rivera said. "If someone does wrong, you don't just throw him out. He is still your family. With this, I'm not saying he did [anything] wrong or whoever did [anything] wrong. We have to see. Major League Baseball is all over that. We have to wait and be a little bit patient and wait and see what happens."
Sabathia said the latest scandal has no effect on the team. Even if the worst-case scenario of Rodriguez being suspended for 100 games were to happen, Sabathia said, the Yankees would be fine.
"We'll keep going," Sabathia said. "We have had guys go down to injuries and all kinds of stuff this year and the past couple of years. We have to keep going. No one is going to feel sorry for us."
Meanwhile, Rodriguez continued working out in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday. He is recovering from hip surgery. The Yankees project that if he does return, it won't be until after the All-Star break.
Rodriguez recently graduated from fielding stationary grounders at third to moving around a little. He also is taking batting practice.
To date, the Yankees owe Rodriguez about $104 million on the league record 10-year, $275 million contract he signed in 2007. Rodriguez has made about $10 million of the $28 million he is scheduled to earn this year but has done so on the disabled list.
If Rodriguez is eventually suspended by the league, the Yankees do not have to pay his salary for games during his suspension, but it's highly unlikely the Yankees would avoid paying any other part of his contract. Should A-Rod retire before his contract is over, and his retirement is confirmed by doctors to be due to an injury that would make him physically unable to play, the Yankees would get 80 percent of what they owe A-Rod back through their insurance policy.
Information from "Outside the Lines" and ESPN.com's Darren Rovell was used in this report.
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Report: A-Rod rebuffed Tony Bosch
