As Major League Baseball does its best to punish Alex Rodriguez for repeated performance enhancing drug use, the New York Yankees third baseman has continued rehabilitating from a strained quadriceps.
According to reports, Rodriguez is potentially facing a lifetime ban from MLB should he decide he is going to appeal their penalty. While some reports have surfaced that Rodriguez and his attorneys will battle any suspension with the goal of "no discipline," conflicting stories have popped up about Rodriguez discussing a plea deal similar to the one Ryan Braun reached.
Now, however, those talks have broken down according to the newest information. Sources close to the talks told ESPN.com the two sides "aren't anywhere close." The sticking point between A-Rod and the league is his insistence on collecting some or most of the $100 million the Yankees still owe him.
Secondly, the sources said the suspension MLB wants A-Rod to accept without appealing is a large gap from what he is willing to surrender in terms of games.
While his "talks" twist and turn, A-Rod is expected to play in a rehab game at Double A Trenton for the Thunder. If these stalled negotiations drag on into next week, the Yankees face further embarrassment. Rodriguez could be back on the field for New York by Sunday if he's not suspended.
Speculation is rampant that the Yankees have no interest in allowing A-Rod back on the field, despite their third baseman hitting a combined four home runs this season. Some have gone as far as to accuse the Yankees of inventing Rodriguez's strained quadriceps to keep him from donning the pinstripes while MLB decided what to do with the steroids-tainted superstar.
The Yankees' distaste for A-Rod is apparent, but there's no doubt even a diminished Rodriguez could help New York's offense. Last season he batted .272 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI in 122 games.
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