Alex Rodriguez's refusal to pay the owner of a South Florida anti-aging clinic that was the target of a massive Major League Baseball doping investigation set the wheels in motion for his agreement to cooperate with baseball officials, the New York Daily News is reporting.
Owner Anthony Bosch asked Rodriguez for financial assistance after MLB filed a lawsuit that alleged that Bosch sold performance-enhancing drugs to players in the league.
When Rodriguez refused to pay what the Daily News is reporting to be well into six figures, Bosch went to MLB to cut a deal.
"A-Rod refused to pay him what he wanted," a source told the newspaper. "Baseball was worried about that."
Bosch is scheduled to meet with MLB officials Friday amid what could be one of the biggest drug scandals in the sport's history.
MLB officials believe that Bosch will provide enough information to suspend more than 20 Major League Baseball players, including Rodriguez, the Daily News has learned from sources familiar with the infamous Biogenesis case.
Current Milwaukee Brewer and 2011 National League Player of the Year Ryan Braun is among those suspected of being suspended. He has been dealing with his own PED controversy after successfully appealing a positive drug test last year.
The Daily News added that MLB has agreed to drop its lawsuit against him filed earlier in 2013 and pay his legal bills, which it says will indemnify him for any civil liabilities stemming from his willingness to testify. He will also be provided personal security.
Also, MLB officials have also told Bosch they would intervene with any law-enforcement agencies that might prosecute him because he acknowledged he provided performance-enhancing drugs to ballplayers.
"This raises a lot of serious ethical problems," one source told the Daily News. "It's indirect compensation for information."
The implicated players likely will challenge the information Bosch provides, based on his agreement with MLB.
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