A Manhattan federal judge could make a critical decision Friday morning regarding Alex Rodriguez’s appeal against Major League Baseball.
Michael Sitrick, A-Rod’s former public-relations adviser, filed a response Thursday to MLB’s Wednesday filing, which demanded Sitrick be held in contempt of court for refusing Judge Edgardo Ramos’ order to testify in the appeal of Rodriguez’s 211-game doping suspension.
Sitrick reiterated that since he lives in Los Angeles and primarily works in Southern California, he shouldn’t have to comply with a subpoena served at his satellite office in Times Square.
MLB badly wants Sitrick’s cooperation because he could help confirm MLB’s allegation Rodriguez obstructed the league’s investigation into Biogenesis, a shuttered South Florida anti-aging clinic.
MLB asserts Sitrick or an underling leaked Biogenesis information about the Yankees’ Francisco Cervelli and Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun to Yahoo! Sports, in an attempt to divert attention from Rodriguez. But time is running out, as independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is supposed to issue his ruling in early-to-mid January.
Ramos first ruled on Nov. 22 that Sitrick had to honor the subpoena from MLB.