In regard to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, commissioner Bud Selig is prepared to bypass the grievance procedure in the collectively-bargained joint drug agreement, disciplining A-Rod under the "integrity of the game" clause Article XI, Section A1b, according to Teri Thompson, Bill Madden, Nathaniel Vinton, and Michael O'Keefe of the New York Daily News. Under that scenario, only Selig himself would hear an appeal.
FanGraphs' Wendy Thurm wrote about this possibility several weeks ago, calling it Selig's "nuclear option." Selig's decision would be final, and could not be further appealed to an arbitrator or court.
MLB will reportedly announce the Biogenesis suspensions this week. It's also been reported that if Rodriguez, approaching his season debut after hip surgery and a quad injury, does not accept a suspension running through 2014, MLB may attempt to ban him for life.
