Alex Rodriguez sues MLB for allegedly buying Tony Bosch's cooperation

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has filed suit against Major League Baseball for allegedly buying the cooperation of Anthony Bosch.

Bosch is the founder of the Biogenesis clinic, the center of baseball's most recent doping scandal.

Rodriguez's lawyers said MLB officials have begun a "witch hunt" to force him out of baseball. They also claim the MLB gave Bosch $5 million to cooperate with the proceedings, and paid $150,000 in cash for records related to Rodriguez, which were apparently stolen.

The suit cites "at least one individual who claims to have knowledge of Mr. Bosch's deal."

A portion of the cash “was handed off in a bag at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-area restaurant,” the lawsuit says.

A-Rod suit: Selig, MLB have "persistently employed powers not available to them .. in order to make an example of Mr. Rodriguez."

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 4, 2013

The suit does not address whether Rodriguez used performance-enhancing drugs.

"This matter is entirely separate from the ongoing arbitration," Rodriguez said in a statement.

"I look forward to the arbitration proceedings continuing, and for the day to come when I can share my story with the public and my supporters."

Major League Baseball issued a statement on the lawsuit shortly after it was filed early Thursday.

"While we vehemently deny the allegations in the complaint, none of those allegations is relevant to the real issue: whether Mr. Rodriguez violated the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by using and possessing numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years and whether he violated the Basic Agreement by attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation," the statement read.

See the full text of the lawsuit here.