Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez on Thursday sued MLB, "accusing it of buying the cooperation" of Biogenesis Founder Anthony Bosch as "part of a continuing 'witch hunt' to force him out of the sport," according to Steve Eder of the N.Y. TIMES. The lawsuit "specifically accuses" MLB of engaging in “'tortuous interference,' essentially interfering with Rodriguez’s existing contracts and future business relationships." The suit, filed in N.Y. State Supreme Court in Manhattan, "does not address whether Rodriguez used banned substances." Rodriguez' lawyers in the suit allege MLB paid Bosch $5M "in monthly installments 'to buy his cooperation,' citing 'at least one individual who claims to have knowledge of Mr. Bosch's deal.'" The lawyers also said that MLB "promised to provide security" for Bosch, as well as "cover his legal bills and indemnify him from civil liability stemming from the case." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "was named as a defendant in the suit," but the Yankees "were not, nor were any of the team's officers" (NYTIMES.com, 10/4). ESPN N.Y.'s Andrew Marchand reports Rodriguez and his attorneys are "going to fire everything they have at baseball and they're going" after Selig. Marchand said the lawsuit claims MLB "improperly marshaled evidence in hopes of destroying the reputation and career" of Rodriguez. The suit also claims Selig "did this because of 'past inaction during the steroid era' and this was an attempt to secure his legacy as the 'savior of America's pastime.'" One of main contention in the suit is that the 211-game suspension handed out by MLB is "unjust because A-Rod never failed a test" Marchand notes Rodriguez's handlers feel the lawsuit "is separate from the arbitration process" that presently is taking place ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/4).
