HBT: If MLB suspends Bruan & A-Rod, what's next?

T.J. Quinn and Mike Fish reported Tuesday that MLB is prepared to suspend Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez and ?as many as 20 players? in connection with the Biogenesis scandal ?sometime after next week?s All-Star break.? Outside the Lines got this from several sources, some likely from within the commissioner?s office. MLB hasn?t been shy about leaking info in the case.

Of course, ?after the All-Star break? is pretty general. One would think it?d have to be pretty much right around the All-Star break for there to be even a slim chance of any suspensions being served this year. It?s typically a couple of months between when a player is notified he tested positive for a banned substance and the appeals process plays out (which is all supposed to be happening in secret). In this case, it could be considerably longer, given that there aren?t any positive tests. ?MLB may announce the suspensions all at once, but there are going to be 20 or so distinct cases here, all of which could be argued separately.

With the appeals process to be played out, it?s just not very realistic to think that anyone is going to end up serving suspensions this year. That?s true even though it?d seem to be best for Braun and A-Rod to serve suspensions now rather than next year, given the Brewers? disappointing record and the state of Rodriguez?s hip. Braun hasn?t been willing to admit any wrongdoing, and hasn?t cooperated with MLB?s investigation. Does anyone think he?ll give up his right to appeal now?

There are also key figures for contenders in the mix. The Rangers? Nelson Cruz and the Tigers? Jhonny Peralta are among those rumored to be in line for suspensions. The Nationals? Gio Gonzalez is mentioned in Biogenesis documents, though reports have him being in the clear since he obtained only legal substances.

If MLB wants to suspend the players, the time to do it is either now or after the World Series. Overshadowing the pennant races by doing it in August or September would be profoundly dumb. Even though MLB likes to parade its dirty laundry for all to see, it?s not that stupid. But even if the players are suspended now, this almost certainly will turn into an offseason matter. 12 weeks isn?t enough time to work through the biggest set of suspensions in league history.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/09/so-if-mlb-suspends-braun-and-a-rod-whats-next/related/

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