Report: Alex Rodriguez paid Tony Bosch's attorneys fees

Alex Rodriguez reportedly paid Tony Bosch's attorney fees related to the Biogenesis scandal. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Alex Rodriguez paid Tony Bosch's
Report: Alex Rodriguez paid Tony Bosch's attorneys fees
Report: Alex Rodriguez paid Tony Bosch's attorneys fees /

Alex Rodriguez reportedly paid Tony Bosch's attorney fees related to the Biogenesis scandal. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Alex Rodriguez reportedly has sued Major League Baseball. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Alex Rodriguez paid Tony Bosch's attorneys fees, according to an "Outside the Lines" report.

Bosch was the founder of the now-closed Biogenesis clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., that distributed performance-enhancing drugs to professional and amateur athletes including Major League Baseball players.

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Bosch's former attorneys said a wire transfer of nearly $50,000 described as a mistake was refused. The payments are part of MLB's evidence of Rodriguez's attempts to tamper with the league's Biogenesis investigation, according to the report.

A spokesperson for Bosch attorney Susy Ribero-Ayala said in a statement to "Outside the Lines" on Sunday that Rodriguez, currently appealing a 211-game suspension from MLB, paid her a $25,000 retainer to defend Bosch in February.

"A retainer was paid (via wire transfer) by a representative of Alex Rodriquez (sic). Ms. Ribero-Ayala accepted this payment on behalf of Anthony Bosch as payment for his legal representation," the statement says.

The statement says the second payment was unexpected.

"In April 2013, Ms. Ribero-Ayala received an unsolicited and unwarranted wire transfer from A-Rod Corp. The funds were immediately returned. Mr. Rodriquez (sic) does not have any involvement in Mr. Bosch's legal representation."

According to documents seen by "Outside the Lines," the amount of the second transfer was for nearly $50,000, minus transfer fees.

MLB officials declined comment Sunday night. Representatives for Rodriguez did not return calls seeking comment.

The documents also show that Ribero-Ayala and Jared Lopez, a partner with Roy Black's law firm in Miami, exchanged emails discussing the wire transfer. Black's firm was representing Rodriguez at the time.

According to the document, Ribero-Ayala said she had received the money and was unaware of any reason for it. Lopez responded that the money had been sent in error, and he asked that it be returned. It was.

Black's firm no longer represents Rodriguez, and Lopez could not be reached Sunday night, according to ESPN.

The documents and the statement from Ribero-Ayala's office appear to contradict earlier reports that Bosch sought to "shake down" Rodriguez for money before agreeing to cooperate with MLB's investigation in June. Instead, several sources familiar with the case said, investigators have said they believe Rodriguez paid for Bosch's attorney and sent the second payment in order to prevent him from providing evidence or testimony against Rodriguez. At best, sources said, the evidence suggests failed negotiations between the two parties.


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