As the baseball world holds its collective breath waiting on arbitrator Fredric Horowitz to rule on embattled third baseman Alex Rodriguez's appeal of his 211-game suspension--which should come any day now--A-Rod has discussed the possibility of accepting a reduced ban rather than attempting to get an injunction that would once again delay his punishment.
According to ESPN sources, if Rodriguez is suspended 100 games or more after the ruling, he and his legal team will pursue a temporary restraining order against Horowitz's decision in federal court, but if it's a lesser ban the third baseman could be open to accepting it.
Rodriguez was suspended 211-games for his alleged connection to Anthony Bosch and the now-defunct Florida-based Biogenesis clinic that was accused of selling A-Rod and 13 others performance enhancing substances.
A-Rod was the only one to appeal his ban, which was by far the most severe. Disgraced Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun received and accepted a 65-game ban while 12 other players agreed to and served 50-game suspensions.
Rodriguez, who returned from injury in August and was able to play until his appeals process began in the fall, played in 39 games for the New York Yankees this season. A source told ESPN that if Rodriguez is given a shorter punishment he'll "have some things to think about."
ESPN reports that the source--which has direct knowledge of the situation--said Rodriguez is mulling the options of what it would cost to continue to battle the punishment compared to just accepting a shorter ban and returning in the second half of the season.
According to ESPN, the source said that taking it to federal court would cost A-Rod at least $10 million with no guarantee of winning while a 100-game ban would cost the third baseman $15,425,000 of his $25 million salary for 2014.
"All of this has been presented to Alex, and he is weighing his options," the source said via ESPN. "In certain situations it may not make much sense to continue to fight."
A-Rod stormed out of the last arbitration hearing upon learning that MLB commissioner Bud Selig wouldn't testify in it and said he "shouldn't even serve one inning," but it would seem as though he's lightened his stance on the whole thing since storming off six weeks ago.
Horowitz is expected to announce this week whether he will keep, reduce or throw out the 211-game ban against Rodriguez, and A-Rod has talked to his lawyers and advisors and doesn't seem to want to tie up more money by going to federal court.
"It's not just a matter of money," the source told ESPN. "It's also about the mental anguish of going through this and not knowing if or when you're going to play again. Alex might decide to take his medicine and move on."
It remains to be seen what Horowitz will decide on the Rodriguez case, but perhaps this whole thing is finally coming to an end.
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