Michael Weiner held the MLBPA All-Star press conference today, and told reporters the 50-100-lifetime suspension protocol does not apply to the Biogenesis investigation. Suspensions would fall under the commissioner’s “just cause” discretion.
Mike Weiner says the Players involved in Biogenesis not bound by drug agreement and could get 5 game suspensions or even 500 games
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 16, 2013
As Wendy Thurm notes:
That’s good news for a player who’s never tested positive for PES but who’s name shows up on some Biogenesis documents. Maybe he only gets a five or ten game suspension because there’s only circumstantial evidence. But it could be bad news for others, like Alex Rodriguez, who are reported to have had a long-standing relationship with Tony Bosch and Biogenesis. If the league develops evidence of pervasive use or possession by A-Rod, it could seek much harsher penalties, even if they fall short of a lifetime ban.
This gets more interesting all the time.