Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch, accused of providing several Major League Baseball players with performance-enhancing drugs, is said to be cooperating with MLB's investigation and willing to provide information on which clients received illegal steroids from him.
This is a list of players, culled by NBCSports.com, and the impact the teams involved may feel stemming from this bombshell.
Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: Braun was the 2011 National League MVP and the runner up in MVP voting last season. He is one of MLB's premier players and one of the only reasons Brewers fans continue showing up to Miller Park. The league is said to be seeking a 100-game suspension for Braun, which would likely cripple any hope of a playoff berth.
Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Cervelli, New York Yankees: While Alex Rodriguez is one of the biggest names in baseball, his play on the field no longer matches his stature. He has spent all of 2013 recovering from hip surgery, while Francisco Cervelli has not suited up since late April due to a broken hand. The Yankees have survived without these two names, and will likely be all right going forward.
Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers: Cruz has been one of the most important players to the Rangers in 2013, with his 14 home runs leading the team and helping soothe the loss of Josh Hamilton. Without Cruz, Texas' offense takes a tremendous hit and puts their chances of an AL West crown in jeopardy.
Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers: Peralta has been one of MLB's biggest surprises this year, batting .338 with six home runs and 36 RBI, while lengthening one of the strongest lineups in all of baseball. While Detroit likely has enough firepower to withstand the loss of Peralta, losing any .330-plus hitter is a big blow.
Everth Cabrera, Yasmani Grandal, San Diego Padres: The Padres are not likely going anywhere in 2013, but Cabrera is rapidly becoming one of MLB's more exciting players. He stole 44 bases last season, and currently leads all baseball in that category this year with 24. Grandal has only played in six games this season, but is considered one of San Diego's best prospects.
Melky Cabrera, Toronto Blue Jays: Cabrera was banned for 50 games last season, in the midst of the best season of his career. When he was re-instated, the Giants left him off their playoff roster and won the World Series without him. In Toronto, he has been solid but unspectacular for the disappointing Blue Jays. If any turnaround is imminent for the Jays, though, Cabrera will likely need to be a big part of it.
Bartolo Colon, Oakland Athletics: While no longer a big name, Colon is still an innings-eater for an AL West contender. Losing Colon is not a crippling blow, but it would sting.
Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners: 2013 can't get any worse for Montero, who was traded from the Yankees two seasons ago for Michael Pineda. Montero's bat deserted him this year, and, when combined with his poor defense behind the plate, landed him back in Triple A. The Mariners likely wouldn't be hurt this season at the MLB-level by a suspension, but it could further stunt the development of their fading star.
Two other marquee names, Robinson Cano of the Yankees and Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals have had their names dragged through the mud in connection with Biogenesis, however, according to NBCSports, they are unlikely to face suspension.
Cano was linked because the spokeswoman for his charity was a client list of Bosch's while Gonzalez is said to have only purchased legal products from him.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.