TMZ reports that Porter Fischer wants $1 million from MLB to hand over his Biogenesis records.
Fischer’s attorney tells TMZ, his client discussed a possible deal with MLB … in which the league would acquire the drug-purchasing records of more than 100 MLB players (including A-Rod and Ryan Braun) — but it’s gonna cost ’em.
Sources close to the investigation tell us, the MLB has yet to make an official offer for the goods … but as it stands, Fischer won’t settle for less than a million.
Can you imagine what baseball will be like if 100 players are suspended? That’s around six or seven players per team. It will turn baseball into a AAA product. I’m not anxious to see that at all.
I have a problem with MLB paying for records. I mean, how are they going to know if it’s legit? Heck, I would fabricate documents for a million dollars.
I also wonder if they really can suspend players if they don’t also have a positive test along the way. Haven’t they told us they have the best and most comprehensive drug testing in place?
Good points all, jrs. I wonder how long the legal battle will take. I can see going through the panel followed by court proceedings ( I know that’s not allowed under the CBA, but under these extraordinary conditions, i.e. a complete denial of due process, some local judge whose team lost several players will allow court proceedings to commence and you never know what a court of appeals will do).
Suspending players on the basis of bought for the tune of $1 million records, which are possibly covered by HIPPA? First there’s the suspension process, followed by arbitration. Then there’s going to be a federal lawsuit. A temporary restraining order blocking any suspension, followed by a trial (bench only, no jury.) How admissible is evidence, by shady characters, that has a specific dollar figure? Oh, and “Tony Bosch told me he injected A-Rod” hearsay is inadmissible. Two year minimum before any suspension starts, if any.
We’re accepting TMZ as a news source then? OK, have fun with that.
Joseph Finn » Why not? The National Enquirer got the John Edwards story right, after all. Just take it with a big grain of salt.
Depends on the talent level of most of those suspended–if most of those on the list are borderline major leaguers who used to edge out other minor leaguers, the quality of play on the field shouldn’t suffer much (100 players is three or four per team, so not quite as bad as all that). Obviously, teams that lose a superstar (say, the Brewers) are going to be crippled in the short term unless the rest of the roster can pick up the slack (as Juan Pierre somewhat miraculously did during Manny Ramirez’s first drug suspension).
The question is would MLB be buying the records to suspend 100 players, or to bury the many of the records to prevent the public and Congress from knowing 100 players used steroids without getting caught under their test program, including some players who are in cost controlled years making money for their teams and some icons who have avoided the PED taint (use your imagination).
MLB’s main mission is to protect MLB revenues and it’s brand. Saint Bud never worried about steroids when revenues were skyrocketing, and if not for Congress he would not be worried about Biogenesis. Somehow he has to walk that tight rope appeasing both Congress and owners, so we may get a few sacrificial lambs (primarily those with non performing contracts, big contracts, those already tainted, or nobodies) but nothing juicy (a Papi, Jeter, Iglesias, Puig, etc).
I am surprised Congress is not launching an investigation to protect the records and look into this. Of course, they have more important things to do on their summer break.