Even if the Biogenesis suspensions are not technically handed down before the Trade Deadline later today, it sounds like they will impact some teams’ activities. According to the New York Daily News, Major League Baseball has informed the Players Association of which players it will suspend for their connection to the Biogenesis clinic, which had allegedly been distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
The Daily News indicates that Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, Everth Cabrera, and five others were identified by MLB and will be suspended this week. (The article’s language is a bit fuzzy on this point, and, although it definitively states that nine total players will be suspended, it’s slightly unclear if those three, after Rodriguez, are definitely included. The article definitely suggests it, though.). The players could accept a punishment as soon as today.
The Trade Deadline impact was already suggested by the three-team Jake Peavy trade late last night, in which the Detroit Tigers picked up shortstop Jose Iglesias, a possible signal that they expect Peralta to be suspended.
As for why just nine players are to be suspended instead of the 20+ previously reported, the Daily News says MLB either didn’t have enough evidence on some of the connected players, or the players were already caught and suspended previously (i.e., Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera, and Yasmani Grandal).
Short of a big surprise in the suspensions, then, it looks like the only remaining major Trade Deadline impact here relates to a possible Cruz suspension, and the Rangers’ attending pursuit of an outfield bat. They haven’t been explicitly connected to Nate Schierholtz or David DeJesus, but that’s where you’d be watching on this story.