Alex Rodriguez is in no hurry to serve his unprecedented 211-game suspension.
Major League Baseball confirmed Wednesday that the embattled New York Yankees third baseman has officially appealed the suspension that was set to run from Thursday through the 2014 regular-season.
It was announced Monday that A-Rod, 38, was suspended for violating the MLB's drug agreement and labor contract for his connection with an anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis, tied to selling performance enhancing drugs to baseball players. A-Rod was one of 13 players penalized Monday, but received by far the harshest penalty due to MLB ruling that he had more misdeeds charged against him than the 12 others, each of whom received 50-game bans.
The only player tied to the clinic to receive more than a 50-game suspension besides Rodriguez was Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun who agreed to a 65-game ban over two weeks ago.
Rodriguez had planned to fight the ruling from the get-go, and will be able to continue playing for the Yankees until arbitrator Frederic Horowitz hears his case, which isn't expected to be until November or December at the earliest. Rodriguez will most likely be able to play the rest of the season in pinstripes as long as he stays healthy.
MLB Players Association head Michael Weiner didn't agree with the punishment MLB handed to A-Rod, calling it "way out of line."
Rodriguez will play in just his third game of the season with the Yankees Wednesday night on the road in Chicago against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field after returning from off-season hip surgery in January and following a Grade 1 quadriceps strain set-back earlier this month. Rodriguez was approached by the media about his appeal, but wouldn't comment on it.
"I have no reaction to that," the third baseman said.
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