Earlier this year, a list of major league players associated with a performance-enhancing drug lab in South Florida was released to the public. Several household names could be found on said list, including previously suspended players like Alex Rodriguez and Bartolo Colon. Now closed, Biogenesis was run by Tony Bosch, who originally denied any association with PEDs being distributed to these players.
Today, ESPN's T.J. Quinn, along with Pedro Gomez and Mike Fish, announced that Major League Baseball will look to suspend just under 20 players for their association with the lab. Outside the Lines has learned that the previously closed-mouth Bosch is now working directly with MLB to give them the proper evidence to prosecute the players. If things go as planned, sit down meetings between Bosch and investigators will take place within the next week. Player suspensions can be expected within two weeks.
According to the report, players like A-Rod, Colon, and Ryan Braun could all be suspended 100 games. A-Rod and Colon have already been suspended once before, and Braun would be caught using on one account, and lying about usage on another. Other players rumored to be on the list are Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera (another possible 100 game suspension), Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, and Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal. Other players that were guarded by code names on the reports have not yet been revealed.
Should this process go down as expected, it will be a major stepping stone for MLB's push to rid the game of steroid use. It has been nearly a year since the league has received word of Bosch's clinic, and they've been at it ever since. They (MLB) are agreeing to drop their lawsuit against Tony Bosch for his cooperation with the effort.
One player originally associated with Biogenesis that will most likely not be suspended is Phillie-turned-National Gio Gonzalez, who has previously been confirmed as only receiving legal substances from the lab.
