Alex Rodriguez accused of using Performing enhancing drugs.....Again

(Photo:Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

Alex Rodriguez, along with several other MLB players, has been accused of taking performing enhancing drugs by the Miami New Times. Lets be clear with that as of today February 2nd 2013 the MLB has taken no action against any of these players as the only information has come from this newspaper. This could change relatively quickly , but Alex has vehemently denied the allegations stating:

"The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true," Rodriguez said in a statement issued by a publicist. "He was not Mr. Bosch's patient, he was never treated by him and he was never advised by him. The purported documents referenced in the story — at least as they relate to Alex Rodriguez — are not legitimate."

 That has not stopped Alex and these other players from being convicted in the court of ESPN and the Yankees are reportedly trying to void the contract they gave Alex after he opted out his previous contract. They would obviously want this as he is owed $114 million over the next five years and they would love to have that money back. That being said unless the MLB takes action there really wouldn't be anything they could do to get out of the contract, the Yankees gave him this money with full knowledge that they would be paying him well over $20 million a year until he was 42. They did not know he would require two hip surgeries in the first 5 years of that contract and admit to use of PED's between 01-03. Many, many writers are seemingly trying to will Alex into retirement or simply out of his contract with the Yankees, its not happening. Maybe in the future teams will be able to opt out of a contract if a player is busted for PED use, but as of now I do not know if he would face a suspension as he hasn't tested positive for anything. This could change, the MLB could find that the evidence was fraudulent or they could find its incredibly damming and could sustain all the accusations against the players named in the report.
Despite all the willpower of baseball writers I expect that Alex will be back with the team in mid to late July, after that I have no idea how long he will play with the Yankees or otherwise.  Also do not forget that when the Yankees gave Alex this contract after he opted out in 2007, he had just come off an amazing MVP year and had never had any injury issues in his career when he signed that contract. Last off season the contract the Angels gave Albert Pujols was applauded by many writers and that was given after a down year for Pujols, that contract is gonna look really bad in a few years but it wont be slammed as badly because people like Pujols better than A-Rod. Also don't completely count Alex out yet, before his hand was broken by a pitch from King Felix in Seattle he was tearing the cover off the ball and if he starts playing at Designated Hitter more and more then his performance could improve.
Unfortunately for all the non Alex Rodriguez people out there who would have liked to see a way for the Yankees to get out of paying Alex, I expect that Alex will play this season, for the Yankees and will play reasonably well considering his two hip surgeries and increasing age. However all of that remains to be seen and we will all have to wait and see what the results of these accusations are and how the 2013 MLB season plays out.