Miami clinic founder to aid baseball's PEDs probe

NEW YORK The founder of a Miami anti-aging clinic has agreed to talk to Major League Baseball about players linked to performance-enhancing drugs, a league executive confirms to CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Anthony Bosch ran the now-closed Biogenesis of America clinic in Coral Gables, Fla. In January, the Miami New Times reported that it obtained records detailing players' purchases of banned drugs, leading to a Major League Baseball lawsuit against the clinic and its operators, accusing them of scheming to provide banned PEDs to players in violation of their contracts.

According to the league executive, Bosch could implicate as many as 25 players, including some big names that previously have not surfaced in connection to the clinic.

Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz and Melky Cabrera are among the players whose names already have been tied to the clinic.

In a statement, MLB Players Association said that players linked to the investigation are currently being interviewed by the commissioner's office.

"The commissioner's office has assured us that no decisions regarding discipline have been made or will be made until those interviews are completed," MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner said. "It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged those investigations."

• Brewers' Braun says he used Fla. clinic owner as consultant
• Alex Rodriguez denies report he was treated at PED clinic
• Report: Several big MLB stars linked to PED probe

In addition to Rodriguez, New York Yankees teammate Francisco Cervelli also was linked to the clinic. Cervelli said he consulted Biogenesis for a foot injury, but didn't receive any treatment.

"We'll let MLB handle everything and we don't really have a comment," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday night after a 4-3 win over Cleveland.

Girardi said the Yankees were still planning on Rodriguez rejoining the team after the All-Star break. The star third baseman has been on the disabled list all season.

As for the drug cloud that has hovered over baseball for years, Girardi said, "I think we all had hoped we'd gotten through it. But obviously, we haven't."

Yankees outfielder Vernon Wells said it was too soon to draw any conclusions.

"Everything right now is speculative," Wells said. "We can all sit here and wonder."

Most of those linked to Biogenesis have denied the allegations, although Rodriguez admitted using performance-enhancing drugs earlier in his career and Bartolo Colon, another player reportedly linked, and Cabrera each were suspended for 50 games last year for testing positive for elevated testosterone levels.

Rodriguez denied the newspaper report when it came out. A publicist issued a statement saying, "The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true. He was not Mr. Bosch's patient, he was never treated by him and he was never advised by him."

Braun failed a drug test in 2011, but his suspension was overturned by an arbitrator. He has acknowledged that he was mentioned in Biogenesis records, but says it was because his lawyers had used Bosch as consultant during the appeal.

After the Brewers' 4-3 win in 10 innings over Oakland at Miller Park, Braun said he was done talking about the clinic.

"I've already addressed everything related to the Miami situation. I addressed it in spring training. I will not make any further statements about it," he said.

"The truth has not changed," he said.

Braun said the speculation was not affecting him on the field.

"No, of course not. I've dealt with this for two years now. I'm pretty good at avoiding distractions," he said.