A decision on Alex Rodriguez’s appeal of his 211-game suspension is expected to be announced “any day now,” but if Rodriguez doesn’t like the outcome, he could file an injunction that would result in further legal action, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa.
A-Rod could seek an injunction to block arbitrator ruling
If A-Rod doesn’t like the ruling on his suspension, he could file an injunction and force his way onto the field to begin the season.
If the legal battle continues, A-Rod could end up in the Yankees' lineup on Opening Day and continue to play until a final decision is made.
“The papers are all ready ... They are just waiting for the announcement.”
Rodriguez’s team of lawyers could claim that the arbitration of his appeal hearing was biased against him, and that the unprecedented suspension was a result of “the arbiter exceed[ing] the duties within his purview.”
In other words, they intend to draw the process out as long as possible, even if the end result remains the same. While his lawyers contend that their client doesn’t deserve to serve “one inning,” there is some speculation that the Yankees’ third baseman would accept a suspension of 65 games or less.
The legal fees to combat a 65-game ban would likely cost Rodriguez, who is scheduled to earn $25 million in 2014, more than he would lose in salary.
A compromise of that nature is likely. A 65-game suspension would equate to the punishment Ryan Braun was given for “using a lozenge and a cream for a limited time,” while A-Rod is said to have taken part in “serious drug use over several years, involving multiple substances and code words for drugs used in voluminous text messages, even injections.”
As if things hadn’t gotten ugly enough -- Rodriguez and his lawyers have already sued commissioner Bud Selig and portrayed Tony Bosch as a cocaine addict, not to mention the league’s own shadowy dealings with Bosch -- now, the process could very well end up stretching into the 2014 season.
The initial ruling is expected soon, but the matter will be far from resolved. In the meantime, A-Rod could see regular playing time with Yankees, since he’s likely to be their best option at third when they open their season in Houston on April 1.
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