NEW YORK, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Both Alex Rodriguez and Major League Baseball paid for documents that could link the New York Yankees slugger to a Florida biotech company, witnesses say.
The New York Post reported the testimony came during a closed hearing into Rodriguez's appeal of MLB penalties that would keep him from playing until after the start of the 2015 season.
The newspaper, citing a source, said Rob Manfred, MLB's chief operating officer, testified Thursday that he had allowed the payment of $125,000 for documents from Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic that is now closed. Other witnesses, sources told the Post, said A-Rod paid $305,000 for incriminating documents.
Joseph Tacopina, Rodriguez's lawyer, denied his client tried to buy and hide incriminating documents.
"The notion that we paid any money for any Biogenesis documents is patently false, and anyone who is leaking this information knows it's false," he said.
A-Rod, now 38, has played third base for the Yankees since 2004. He previously played with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
Given his age, the suspension could effectively mean the end of his career. Rodriguez chose to appeal while other players caught up in the Biogenesis scandal opted for immediate 50-game suspensions.
