MLB, A-Rod Expected To Meet Next Week; Illegal Poker Probe Reportedly Won't End In Suspension
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Major League Baseball will reportedly deal Yankees star Alex Rodriguez a winning hand.
According to the New York Post, A-Rod will not face a suspension, only a "serious warning," stemming from his alleged involvement in an illegal, underground high-stakes poker game. That is, unless he "admits to some other more serious infraction."
Star Magazine reported last month that several people saw A-Rod playing in games hosted at Hollywood hotels and residences. MLB announced they are investigating the claims, and A-Rod's publicist said the slugging third baseman was looking forward to cooperating with MLB in its poker probe.
According to WFAN's Jon Heyman, MLB's meeting with Rodriguez is "expected to be held sometime next week."
"Even if it is determined that he was (playing), he will not be suspended at this time for this infraction," a source told the paper. "He will be warned again and not lightly."
MLB said on Wednesday that the report was the first the commissioner's office had heard about the specific accusation.
Richard Rubenstein, Rodriguez's publicist, said in a statement Thursday morning that Star's story contains "numerous factual inaccuracies." Also on Thursday, A-Rod refused to discuss the investigation, ending a session with reporters with a one-word answer.
The Yankees had said the injured star would stop his post-workout media session at the team's minor league training complex if any reporter posed an non-baseball question.
Rodriguez spoke for several minutes about his recovery from knee surgery. But when asked if he would not discuss the poker games, he said "yep" and walked to his car.
Rodriguez also faced questions about his gambling habits in 2005, when the Daily News reported he attended games at an underground poker club in New York. The slugging third baseman later acknowledged "it wasn't the right thing to do," and checked with MLB before holding a charity poker tournament the following year.
Now baseball wants to talk to him again.
"We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation," MLB said in a statement. "As part of the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez."
Should A-Rod be suspended if MLB finds he was involved? Sound off in the comments below...
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