MORE BOMBSHELLS IN AROD'S WORLD

While the Alex Rodriguez arbitration hearing is in recess until November, the amount of information coming forth about it is not. ARod's team admits to having paid $305K for evidence. But, according to his legal team, the purchase was made three weeks ago, at a time when it wouldn't have interfered with MLB's Biogenesis investigation.

I know guys, you're thinking "But we knew this in April. Why are you reporting it now?" Well because it is all new information. In April, the news broke that ARod bought stolen notebooks, and documents. It was a claim made by the MLB which ARod's team have denied. Whether or not ARod did in fact purchase those notebooks, and documents in question has never been proven. They are part of belongings stolen from Porter Fischer's car that have never been recovered.

Fast forward a few months, and we have ARod's team admitting to purchasing evidence. But not the notebooks, and documents from April. According to a report in the New York Daily News (HERE) "Sources have told The News that Team A-Rod spent $200,000 on a video that shows MLB officials purchasing documents from Gary Jones, and associate of Biogenesis whistleblower Porter Fischer." So the purchase authorized by Rob Manfred was caught on camera? Manfred now denies having testified to purchasing the stolen documents. He claims that leaked documents from the hearing are another violation that would be mentioned to the arbitrator.

The report goes on to say "Rodriguez and his advisers also spent $105,000 to buy what they called inappropriate text messages between an MLB investigator and a potential witness." Was the MLB actually bullying witnesses, making this the witch hunt that ARod believes it is? Lanny Davis, former Clinton White House adviser said "In general, it is absolutely legal to buy a document, but you can't get it by threat or coercion."

I'd like to point out that this is all based on a "Source." I have mentioned before how much I hate when reporters hide behind an anonymous source. It is the easiest way to deny responsibility if a particular piece of information ends up being false. But if this is true, what does it mean for the case? Probably very little. The arbitration is to prove that ARod is in violation of the basic agreement. They will have to prove that the purchase did not hinder the investigation, since 61 games of the 211 game suspension is for obstruction of evidence. But even if they manage to prove that, if the MLB has enough evidence against ARod, the suspension might stick. The question is, will he be able to use these documents in his suit against the MLB?

This ARod stuff is a circus! All the information being released is distracting to the real issues at hand. Did ARod used banned substances? If he did, why isn't he getting a 50 game suspension like all other first time offenders? Despite what the general feel towards ARod is, he is still technically a first time offender. It's highly frustrating for Yankees fans to continuously be bombarded with all of this. Not to mention what it means to us in the off season, as pointed out by BYB guest writer, Douglas Solomon (HERE). At the end of it all, if the MLB did make this a witch hunt, than they should be penalized accordingly. If ARod is in violation, his punishment should fit the crime. As it stands now, all parties involved seem more like irrational, and petty school children in an after school dispute. 

The arbitration hearings resume in November. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz will continue to hear testimony in an effort to decide whether to uphold, over turn, or alter ARod's suspension.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804



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