The newspaper reviewed a 15-page synopsis of A-Rod’s interview at a Drug Enforcement Administration conference room on Jan. 29. He was talking to federal agents and prosecutors who granted him immunity in their on-going probe of the now-shuttered clinic.
“Yes, he bought performance-enhancing drugs from Biogenesis of America, paying roughly $12,000 a month to Anthony Bosch, the fake doctor who owned the clinic,” the newspaper reports in its summary of Rodriguez’s interview. “Yes, Bosch gave him pre-filled syringes for hormone injections into the ballplayer’s stomach, and even drew blood from him in the men’s room of a South Beach nightclub. And yes, the ballplayer’s cousin, Yuri Sucart, was his steroid go-fer.”
Among other admissions, A-Rod said he:
— Paid Bosch for testosterone cream, testosterone-laced “gummies” and human growth hormone injections;
—Injected the HGH into his stomach;
—Allowed Bosch to inject him “in the buttocks with a red liquid substance.”
“Rodriguez was alarmed about the red liquid substance and did not want to take an injectable form of testosterone,” the report said. Bosch said was “vitamins, not testosterone.”
The three-time AL MVP, who was suspended for the entire 2014 season following MLB’s investigation of Biogenesis, admitted six years ago he used performance-enhancing substances while with Texas from 2001-03, and has denied usage since.
Rodriguez played in just 44 games in the 2013 season, hitting seven home runs to increase his career total to 654, fifth-most in baseball history.
He is still owed $61 million on the final three years of his contract with the Yankees and will turn 40 next July. He could receive an additional $6 million each for five milestones that the team designates as historic achievements, the next of those believed to be tying Willie Mays’ 660 home runs for No. 4 on the all-time list.
Brad Halsey, who pitched in 88 games for three teams from 2004 to 2006, has died at the age of 33. USA Today reports Halsey died Friday “in a recreational climbing accident near his New Braunfels, Texas home.”
Police in Comal County told the Associated an investigation was still ongoing into the accident in the Texas Hill Country area. The Lux Funeral Home said services were pending.
Overall, he was 14-19 with a 4.84 ERA and 160 strikeouts.
Police in Comal County told the Associated an investigation was still ongoing into the accident in the Texas Hill Country area. The Lux Funeral Home said services were pending.
In 2004, Halsey dueled Boston ace Pedro Martinez into the middle innings in a game highlighted by Derek Jeter’s diving catch into the stands at Yankee Stadium.
In 2006, Halsey gave up Barry Bonds’ 714th home run, tying Babe Ruth for second place on the career list. Halsey later joked about the specially marked balls for Bonds’ at-bats.
“They just have a B and a number on them, and a picture of Barry, too. If you look into his eye, he winks at you,” Halsey said.
A’s assistant general manager Farhan Zaidi will be the next general manager of the Dodgers, and former MLB infielder Ryan Theriot is weighing in on the decision for some reason.
His verdict?
“Wow Dodgers! Nice hire for the GM job,” Theriot tweeted Wednesday. “Hahahahahaha…….Good luck with that! #moneyballdoesntwork”
Not good enough for Theriot. In a later tweet he wrote: “Should be a Prerequisite for ALL sports GM jobs that they actually have PLAYED the game. Too much riding on their decisions!”
The problem with that logic?
Some of the game’s most successful executives, including Brian Sabean, Theo Epstein, Ben Cherington, John Mozeliak and Dan Duqette, never played baseball professionally.
Theriot last played in the majors in 2012, when he had a WAR of minus-0.3.
The Astros have acquired catcher Hank Conger in a trade with the Angels.
The Angels got right-hander Nick Tropeano and minor league catcher Carlos Perez in the deal Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Conger played 80 games with 70 starts last season for the Angels. A first-round pick in 2006, Conger hit .221 with four homers and a career-high 25 RBIs.
Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow says: “We scouted him extensively this year as a divisional opponent and feel he brings a unique skill set to our organization.”
Tropeano went 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in four games for Houston in 2014. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was 9-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 23 games.
Perez spent last season in Triple-A, hitting .259 with six homers and 34 RBIs.
Contributors: Justin McGuire, The Associated Press