Updated Post 6/4 at 9:10 PM:
ESPN has included the names of the other 20 players believed to potentially be facing MLB discipline, and Mets top-hitting prospect Cesar Puello as well as Ex-Met Fernando Martinez are among those included.
In addition to A-Rod, Braun, Puello and Martinez, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Yasmani Grandal, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta, Everth Cabrera, Fautini de los Santos, Jordan Norberto have all been named by Quinn as those who MLB will be targeting among others.
Quinn explains that several players are either “identified by code names” or their names appear in “other documents not obtained by ‘Outside the Lines.'”
Original Post 6/4 at 8:19 PM:
Major League Baseball will look to suspend a slew of players in connection with the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic that is at the core of a performance-enhancing drug scandal says T.J. Quinn of ESPN’s “Outside The Lines”.
Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are said to headline the group that MLB is targeting for what is believed to be for 100-game suspensions. The two names mentioned in the report in A-Rod and Braun are said to be potentially facing such harsh penalties not only due to their accused connection to clinic founder Tony Bosch, but also lying about PED use.
Bosch has agreed to cooperate with MLB’s investigation, and is supposed to be meeting with officials and “naming names” within the week.
Quinn goes on to say that MLB has had documents connection the 20 names to the clinic, however without a sworn statement from Bosch, the papers are nothing more than a “roadmap” and not enough to dish out suspensions. Under “pressure of lawsuit and possible investigation”, Bosch agreed to cooperate and is expected to release more names than the 20 found by MLB.
Quinn states on Twitter and in his ESPN report that announcements of suspensions could come in as soon as two weeks.
Bosch expected to meet MLB officials within the week. Suspensions could follow within two weeks, although most players certain to appeal.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) June 4, 2013
Gio Gonzalez is not included because although he had previous connections to Bosch, he only purchased legal substances from the now infamous clinic.
Keep it locked as we will have more on this breaking story as it develops…
