MLB's negotiations with A-Rod said to stall

Alex Rodriguez arrives for a workout Thursday at the Yankees' Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. (AP)

The legal team representing Alex Rodriguez has begun negotiating a settlement it hopes will help the Yankees third baseman avoid a lifetime ban from baseball, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.

The talks are occurring despite Rodriguez's consistent denials of any connection to the Biogenesis clinic and his representative's insistence that an agreement would not be considered.

However, ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported on Thursday night that the discussions have hit a snag over the length of the suspension A-Rod is willing to accept and baseball's current offer. Sources were quoted as saying there is a "wide gap" between the sides.

Rodriguez is also said to be concerned about an assurance that he receives as much of the approximately $100 million remaining on his contract as possible.

There has been speculation that MLB wants the 38-year-old Rodriguez to sit out at least a full season in exchange for not imposing a harsher punishment. There is a powerful financial incentive for Rodriguez to settle. If Rodriguez goes along with missing the rest of this season and all of 2014, he would still be entitled to the $61 million he is owed for the 2015, '16 and '17 seasons. He would not receive any of that money if he is banned for life and his appeal is denied.

According to the reports by the New York Daily News, New York Post and ESPN, Major League Baseball earlier this week informed the MLB Players Association that A-Rod's penalty would be "considerable" and could even end his playing career if he decides to fight what is said to be extensive evidence that he not only acquired performance-enhancing substances from Biogenesis but that he recruited other players to patronize the clinic and impeded MLB's investigation.

There have been multiple reports that eight or nine other players will receive 50-game suspensions in return for agreeing not to file grievances and appeal their punishments, thus effectively ending their seasons. That group could include Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera.

Brewers star Ryan Braun accepted a 65-game suspension last week. If there are any appeals, MLB would present that as evidence to support the credibility of Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch, who agreed to cooperate with baseball's investigators.

Major League Baseball had no comment on the reports.

A player who accepts an immediate suspension would technically be eligible for the postseason if his team makes it. As a practical matter, though, it would be nearly impossible for a player to be sharp enough to contribute at that point.

When Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera was suspended last year, he could have been activated in time for the National League Championship Series, but the Giants decided against the move. Manager Bruce Bochy explained at the time that he liked the way his roster had pulled together down the stretch.

Rodriguez, who is currently rehabbing following offseason left hip surgery -- he's slated to play games on Friday and Saturday with Double-A Trenton -- and a recent left quadriceps injury, has retained the services of the Manhattan law firm of Cohen, Weiss and Simon, according to the Post. If an agreement isn't reached, Commissioner Bud Selig has some options on what the next step would be.

If Rodriguez's suspension is based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he would not be able to play while waiting for arbitrator Frederic Horowitz to hear his case. While it's unclear how quickly an appeal could be heard, Horowitz conceivably could hand down his ruling before the end of the season.

If Rodriguez is suspended for violating the Joint Drug Agreement, he could play through the appeals process. Or, if he's suspended under the Commissioner's "integrity of the game" powers in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Selig himself would hear the appeal instead of Horowitz. But that's considered the least likely outcome.

Rodriguez has never tested positive for PEDs in non-survey testing, though he did test positive in 2003 survey testing, which could help his case in any appeal. But if it comes to that, Horowitz will have the latitude to consider a lifetime suspension and perhaps impose a lesser penalty.

An announcement is expected any day. Reports have suggested it will come on Friday, with the Post saying it could be made as early as Thursday. Players who choose to sit out 50 games now will have to begin serving their suspensions soon in order to complete their sentences by the end of the regular season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined to speculate on the future during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. He referred all questions to MLB, adding that the team will continue to assume Rodriguez will return to active duty until told differently.

"I think you have to at this point," Cashman said. "Nothing's been handed down, so I think you have to. We expected to have him back at this point. We don't have him yet, but I know he's playing in a simulated game [Thursday], and that's a step in the right direction."

Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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