Alex Rodriguez HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 27: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees works out on the field before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on September 27, 2013 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
MLBBy Arthur Weinstein on

Baseball’s so-called “steroid era” is something most executives, players and fans would like to forget, but every now and then, a revelation from that time still makes headlines.

That happened Wednesday, when ESPN published a story alleging that superstar Alex Rodriguez informed DEA agents that Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch told him that Manny Ramirez, Ryan Braun and a third All-Star were all clients.

Biogenesis became the center of the steroid scandal in 2013. when a whistleblower revealed the company had been selling performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players.

After an investigation, 13 MLB players served suspensions as a result of the scandal. While 12 players got 50-game suspensions, A-Rod received a 211-game suspension that sidelined him the entire 2014 season.

According to the ESPN report, A-Rod told prosecutors and more than a half-dozen DEA agents in January 2014 that Ramirez, Braun and the third All-Star, who was not named, were clients.

Rodriguez definitely had a strong personal investment in telling the truth. The report noted, “Rodriguez set foot in the DEA office that day armed with prosecutor-granted “Queen for a Day” status, meaning that whatever he shared with authorities could not be used against him in later legal proceedings. Still, though, he had to tell the truth or he faced potential serious charges of lying to federal agents.”

ESPN’s report notes that Rodriguez first admitted his PED use to prosecutors that day; he had steadfastly denied any use after baseball had suspended him, even suing MLB and the players’ union.

Not surprisingly, many MLB fans met the report with the predictable lines worthy of a drug-dealing movie (“Nobody likes a snitch,” etc.) but there were some interesting observations.


[ESPN]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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