Alex Rodriguez sues MLB, alleging campaign to ‘destroy’ his career

New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player, who was suspended for 211 games in August for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), took a swing for the fences in a bid to restore his reputation, accusing Major League Baseball  and its commissioner, Bud Selig, in a lawsuit made public Friday of pursuing him in a "witch hunt" designed to smear his character and cost him tens of millions of dollars.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in New York State Supreme Court by Rodriguez's lawyers. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for what it alleges was a relentless campaign by the league and Selig to "destroy the reputation and career of Alex Rodriguez."

The suit claims Selig and MLB tried to smear Rodriguez's reputation to "gloss over" Selig's past inaction and tacit approval of the use of PEDs in baseball, which the lawsuit said had turned the "Golden Age of Baseball" into the "Golden Age of Steroids." The lawsuit said Selig hoped to redeem himself and secure his legacy as the "savior" of America's pastime. (Rodriguez was allowed to play the remainder of the 2013 season while appealing the suspension.)

"Taking down Mr. Rodriguez would vividly demonstrate that Commissioner Selig had learned from the errors of his previous explicit or tacit tolerance of steroid use," the lawsuit said.

MLB spokesman Matthew Monte said the league had no comment. A message left at Selig's office was not immediately returned, though his office said the league could comment on his behalf as well.

Timeline of baseball's PED history

The lawsuit was filed as Rodriguez appeals his suspension for violating baseball's drug agreement and labor contract. The suspension stemmed from baseball's investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic.

The suit accuses the league and Selig of planting negative stories about Rodriguez in the news and trying to besmirch his name while protecting a witness under investigation for allegedly providing steroids to minors.

"Such are the lengths that Commissioner Selig and MLB have stooped to in their witch hunt against Mr. Rodriguez — paying and protecting someone under investigation for providing steroids to minors," the lawsuit said.

The court papers noted that Rodriguez's suspension was four times the length of the other 13 players suspended in connection with the Biogenesis probe and the longest nonlifetime ban in baseball history. They said the suspension was 161 games longer than the 50-game suspension recommended by the joint drug agreement in the players' contract.

The lawsuit said the suspension will cost him tens of millions of dollars in salary and could prevent him from meeting certain performance goals in his contract that are worth millions of dollars.

It also said two potential sponsors — Nike and Toyota  — have terminated negotiations with Rodriguez for sponsorship contracts and his voice work as a hero in an animated movie, "Henry & Me," has been cut. The movie chronicles the Yankees' history and features baseball stars past and present.

The Associated Press