Former MVPs Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are at the center of an ongoing Major League Baseball performing-enhancing probe that could end in the most suspensions ever rendered in American sports history.
According to ESPN’s “Outside The Lines,” league officials are seeking at least 100 game bans for both the Yankees and Brewers stars after Biogensis of America founder Tony Bosch agreed to cooperate with investigators and testify against the two players.
In all, “Outside The Lines” reported as many as 20 players now stand in the crosshairs and that Bosch is expected to again meet with investigators later this week in New York. The official announcement of suspensions could come as soon as two weeks, ESPN reported.
Sources also told ESPN attorneys for Bosch sought and received assurances from MLB that their client would face only minimal prosecution before allowing him to speak with investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s office. In exchange for his full cooperation, MLB officials have also agreed to drop a lawsuit filed against Bosch in March, absolve him from any liability stemming from his involvement and provide personal security for him.
According to ESPN, the 20 players thus far targeted were identified through paperwork, and Bosch is expected to finger even more as he opens up to investigators. The development comes as a major coup for MLB officials, who have been aggressively pursuing the case since Bosch’s name was raised in investigatory circles several months ago,
MLB officials are also reported to be seeking the cooperation of at least two other former Bosch associates, whom they believe to have connections with longtime agents Seth and Sam Levinson, both of whom are suspected to have served as go-betweens between Bosch and numerous players.
In the case of both Rodriguez and Braun, ESPN added, MLB officials are seeking sentences twice as long as those normally rendered based on the grounds their connection to Bosch constitutes one offense and the previous denials given to investigators render another.
Rodriguez, who is fifth on the all-time home run list with 647, has yet to play this season, still recovering from a left hip injury.
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