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Major League Baseball will attempt to suspend Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and other players connected to a South Florida doping scandal, ESPN is reporting.
Tony Bosch, director of the Biogenesis lab that has been tied to several star players via multiple news media reports, has agreed to participate in MLB's investigation, according to ESPN, which cited two sources.
That would be a significant boon in baseball's efforts to corroborate reports, initially from the Miami New Times, that Rodriguez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera and more than 20 other players received banned substances from Biogenesis, a since-shuttered wellness clinic.
Cabrera, when approached by USA TODAY Sports before the Blue Jays played his old team, the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, said he had no knowledge of a possible suspension. Cabrera served a 50-game suspension last season when he tested positive for testosterone, missing the Giants' run to the World Series title.
"I don't know anything about it," Cabrera said in Spanish. "This is the first I hear of it. If they suspend me again, I think that would be a harsh punishment because I already served my sentence. But it's up to them.
"I believe I've already served my sentence, especially missing the playoffs. That's what hurt me the most, getting suspended and not being able to play in the playoffs."
Bosch, according to ESPN, will meet with MLB investigators within a week. MLB had filed suit against Bosch in March, but ESPN reported MLB will drop that suit in exchange for Bosch's cooperation.
MLB Players' Association executive director Michael Weiner told USA TODAY Sports Rodriguez and Braun were not suspended and declined further comment.
The list of players linked in published reports to Biogenesis is extensive, and includes stars, bit players and others, like Cabrera, previously linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
Most notable: Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz and former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon, who like Cabrera was suspended for 50 games in August 2012 for a positive testosterone test. So, too, was Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, who returned one week ago from a similar suspension.
Other notable players linked include Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Mariners minor league catcher Jesus Montero , Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta and Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera.