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The greatest enemy of Alex Rodriguez, as it turns out, is not Bud Selig’s investigators or Yankees officials who loathe him.
It is Ryan Braun.
Braun’s acceptance of a season-ending, 65-game suspension damaged Rodriguez’s case in tons of ways none more than this — Braun essentially put Anthony Bosch’s credibility on, well, steroids.
Braun has been the “other” big fish in the Biogenesis investigation, the other huge star, the other player who had aggravated MLB officials by slipping from their grasp previously. In this way, he was linked to Rodriguez more than anyone else under investigation.
Braun, like A-Rod, seemed the kind of player who was going to spend whatever it took, tell whatever contorted story, destroy whomever along the way to try to protect his salary and fraying reputation.
But he finally saw the evidence was too overwhelming to keep saying that up was down, that dirty blood was clean. A serial public liar decided the best-case scenario was to take the best deal possible, which was to sit out the rest of this year without pay (about $3.4 million) in what has been an injury-plagued season for him and a campaign of non-contention for the Brewers.
It allows him to return to play next year and protect the $117 million he is still owed through 2020.
And he surrendered without a grievance, an angry public word or any fight when faced with evidence provided almost wholly by Bosch, which is going to make it tougher for anyone else facing allegations — A-Rod included — to brand Bosch as not believable. Plus, word around baseball is that evidence against Braun amounted to a Lego block compared to the skyscraper of documentation MLB has amassed against Rodriguez.
There is talk of text messages and emails and address labels and — of course — the now-bolstered testimony of Bosch, who ran the disgraced Biognesis.
Rodriguez, of course, has professed his innocence. Has sworn he is not looking for an escape hatch. Those around him say he is prepared to fight vigorously. He, in fact, has the same lawyer representing him that found the loophole through which Braun wiggled free from a failed steroid test two years ago.
No one should be surprised if Rodriguez goes scorched earth, trying to discredit both Yankees officials and major league executives, bringing other players into the equation. Rodriguez has certainly spent plenty on lawyers and spokesmen and crisis managers, and his persecuted personality is such as to see enemies everywhere.
And if he is indeed innocent, then fight the good fight. It is his name, his future dollars, his place in history.
But Rodriguez has to know after seeing at least parts of MLB’s case against him in his sit down with investigators two weeks ago that a) the evidence he will have to counter is steep and b) MLB is going to want way more than 65 games from him. MLB officials feel Rodriguez’s history is far worse because of his admittance to steroid use while playing for the Rangers, his association with Anthony Galea, who was convicted for smuggling performance-enhancing drugs, and for — MLB will claim — trying to hinder the investigation by attaining and destroying evidence.
And what if Rodriguez is ground zero — someone who ushered other players to Bosch?
If he believes he is cornered without escape, A-Rod could use Braun as a roadmap. He could decide he is injured this year and go away for a while to heal better to try to play at a future date. He could think big picture about protecting as much of the roughly $98 million he is still owed. He can think about wanting to be able to stay involved in the game.
That is a key issue. The expectation is that even the most-lenient penalty MLB would be willing to give if A-Rod foregoes a fight and an appeal would still have to start with a one — as in 100 games minimum. And MLB could seek way more than that, such is its combination of fury at Rodriguez’s behavior and its belief in the mountain of evidence.
Thus, if A-Rod pursues a strategy of trying to ruin reputations, soil the sport further, then it is possible Selig could decide to try to go the Pete Rose route and banish Rodriguez for life.
Does Rodriguez want to risk being put outside the game forever? Maybe. Again, his nature and his bankroll suggest a relentless fight.
But union head Michael Weiner said last week that it was important to remember that the drug agreement is “joint” — Commissioners Office and the players, not just MLB. Weiner said his constituents more than ever are pushing to make sure violators are punished as a way to further weed the sport of PEDs. Thus, in the case of overwhelming evidence, Weiner said, he would strongly counsel the charged player to make the best deal possible.
It was believed at the time that he was speaking about Rodriguez. Now, it is clear that Braun is the first to follow that advice — to get the best deal possible with the big picture in mind.
Will A-Rod follow?
joel.sherman@nypost.com