NEW YORK -- Suspended New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez gave up his fight against Major League Baseball on Friday, dropping his lawsuit for tortious interference against the league in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Rodriguez also withdrew his lawsuits against Commissioner Bud Selig and the Major League Baseball Players Association, putting an end to his battle to overturn the 162-game suspension upheld last month by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz in connection with baseball's Biogenesis investigation.
Rodriguez' attorney, Joe Tacopina, confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com that a notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in both cases this afternoon. No explanation was given and further details were supplied.
But sources told ESPNNewYork.com in recent days that Rodriguez had been considering dropping the lawsuits for several reasons, not the least of which was the anticipated $10 million it would cost him in legal fees to continue his fight to play baseball in 2014. Rodriguez is already losing $25 million in salary during his suspension.
Also, sources told ESPNNewYork.com that Rodriguez was seeking to reconcile with baseball in hopes of continuing to work in the industry after his playing days are concluded. Rodriguez' contract with the Yankees runs through 2017 and he has told confidantes he has every intention of returning to the field when his suspension concludes at the end of the 2014 season.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, Rodriguez had in recent days made contact with Major League Baseball COO Rob Manfred, who spearheaded baseball's Biogenesis investigation that resulted in the suspensions of 13 players, in the hopes of repairing relations with the league.
"It was a question of either becoming Pete Rose or Ryan Braun,'' said the source, referring to Rodriguez' fear that he would be ostracized from the game the way Rose, baseball's all-time hit leader, has been since it was revealed he gambled on baseball during his time as a manager.
Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, accepted a 65-game suspension for his involvement with Biogenesis and is expected to resume his career with the Milwaukee Brewers when it is over.
According to sources, Rodriguez hopes to pursue a career in baseball, perhaps in broadcasting or even partial ownership, after his retirement and feared that a protracted legal fight with the league might cause him to be, in the words of the source, "blackballed.''
Rodriguez, who will turn 39 in July, dropped a hint about being resigned to accepting his fate during an interview in Mexico last month when he said, "I think that in the year 2014, the league could have done me a favor because I've played 20 years without a timeout. I think 2014 will be a year to rest, mentally, physically prepare myself for the future and begin a new chapter of my life. I have 3 years left on my contract starting in 2015 and I hope to play very well and finish my career in New York.""
This week, he initiated conversations with Manfred, according to sources, seeking assurances that if he dropped the lawsuit there would be no further reprisals from baseball.
Manfred refused to comment on the matter when reached by cellphone Friday afternoon, but MLB released the following statement after the lawsuits were withdrawn: "We have been informed that Alex Rodriguez has reached the prudent decision to end all of the litigation related to the Biogenesis matter. We believe that Mr. Rodriguez's actions show his desire to return the focus to the play of our great game on the field and to all of the positive attributes and actions of his fellow Major League Players. We share that desire."
Neither Rodriguez' spokesman, Ron Berkowitz, nor Yankees team president Randy Levine had an immediate reaction to the news that Rodriguez had given up his fight.
But Tacopina also confirmed one other loose end: Rodriguez -- who had vowed to join his teammates when they report to camp in Tampa on February 19 -- will no longer be heading to spring training.
"Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit,'' said the MLBPA in a statement. "His decision to move forward is in everyone's best interest."
Rodriguez also withdrew his lawsuits against Commissioner Bud Selig and the Major League Baseball Players Association, putting an end to his battle to overturn the 162-game suspension upheld last month by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz in connection with baseball's Biogenesis investigation.
Rodriguez' attorney, Joe Tacopina, confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com that a notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in both cases this afternoon. No explanation was given and further details were supplied.
But sources told ESPNNewYork.com in recent days that Rodriguez had been considering dropping the lawsuits for several reasons, not the least of which was the anticipated $10 million it would cost him in legal fees to continue his fight to play baseball in 2014. Rodriguez is already losing $25 million in salary during his suspension.
Also, sources told ESPNNewYork.com that Rodriguez was seeking to reconcile with baseball in hopes of continuing to work in the industry after his playing days are concluded. Rodriguez' contract with the Yankees runs through 2017 and he has told confidantes he has every intention of returning to the field when his suspension concludes at the end of the 2014 season.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, Rodriguez had in recent days made contact with Major League Baseball COO Rob Manfred, who spearheaded baseball's Biogenesis investigation that resulted in the suspensions of 13 players, in the hopes of repairing relations with the league.
"It was a question of either becoming Pete Rose or Ryan Braun,'' said the source, referring to Rodriguez' fear that he would be ostracized from the game the way Rose, baseball's all-time hit leader, has been since it was revealed he gambled on baseball during his time as a manager.
Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, accepted a 65-game suspension for his involvement with Biogenesis and is expected to resume his career with the Milwaukee Brewers when it is over.
According to sources, Rodriguez hopes to pursue a career in baseball, perhaps in broadcasting or even partial ownership, after his retirement and feared that a protracted legal fight with the league might cause him to be, in the words of the source, "blackballed.''
Rodriguez, who will turn 39 in July, dropped a hint about being resigned to accepting his fate during an interview in Mexico last month when he said, "I think that in the year 2014, the league could have done me a favor because I've played 20 years without a timeout. I think 2014 will be a year to rest, mentally, physically prepare myself for the future and begin a new chapter of my life. I have 3 years left on my contract starting in 2015 and I hope to play very well and finish my career in New York.""
This week, he initiated conversations with Manfred, according to sources, seeking assurances that if he dropped the lawsuit there would be no further reprisals from baseball.
Manfred refused to comment on the matter when reached by cellphone Friday afternoon, but MLB released the following statement after the lawsuits were withdrawn: "We have been informed that Alex Rodriguez has reached the prudent decision to end all of the litigation related to the Biogenesis matter. We believe that Mr. Rodriguez's actions show his desire to return the focus to the play of our great game on the field and to all of the positive attributes and actions of his fellow Major League Players. We share that desire."
Neither Rodriguez' spokesman, Ron Berkowitz, nor Yankees team president Randy Levine had an immediate reaction to the news that Rodriguez had given up his fight.
But Tacopina also confirmed one other loose end: Rodriguez -- who had vowed to join his teammates when they report to camp in Tampa on February 19 -- will no longer be heading to spring training.
"Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit,'' said the MLBPA in a statement. "His decision to move forward is in everyone's best interest."
