MLB player Alex Rodriguez left his own grievance hearing prematurely Wednesday, after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz refused to force baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to testify on the behalf of the league.
Horowitz was in the middle of the 11th day of hearings on the grievance filed to combat the 211-game suspension that was given to Rodriguez by Major League Baseball for allegedly violating the sport’s drug agreement policy.
“I’m done. I don’t have a chance. You let the arbiter decide whatever he decides,” Rodriguez said during an interview on WFAN radio. “My position doesn’t change. I didn’t do it.”
A source said that after the arbitrator made his decision for Selig not to testify, A-Rod slammed a table, said profanity to the MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred and exited.
Rodriguez released a statement about the incident.
“I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails,” Rodriguez said. “I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process.
This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players’ association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce.”
