ESPN – The spokeswoman for Robinson Cano's foundation is listed as having been a client of the Biogenesis clinic last summer, although she denies having received anything from the clinic and says Cano "definitely never did."
Major League Baseball, however, has possession of a Biogenesis client roster that lists the spokeswoman, Sonia Cruz, and is investigating whether Cano had any relationship to the clinic, sources familiar with MLB's investigation told "Outside the Lines."
Cano has denied knowing clinic founder Tony Bosch or having ever used performance-enhancing drugs. But as his best friend, Melky Cabrera, his mentor, Alex Rodriguez, and now his spokeswoman have all been connected to clinic documents, MLB wants to know whether any relationship between Cano and the clinic exists.
Cruz, 31, says she was never a client of the Miami-area clinic at the heart of an ongoing performance-enhancing drug scandal, but records obtained by "Outside the Lines" list her as owing $300 in both July and August of last year. The records indicate that she paid the full balance in July, but the August records do not mention any payment.
Two former Bosch associates said the $300 monthly tab was consistent with a weight-loss regimen, not performance-enhancing drugs.
It was not clear whether the documents obtained by "Outside the Lines" were the same as the documents recently obtained by MLB.
Cano denied having any knowledge of Cruz's association with the clinic, saying Monday he did not feel a need to speak to her.
"It has nothing do with me. I'm just going to keep playing my game to help the team win," Cano said in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Yankees are starting a series versus the Rays.
When initially contacted by "Outside the Lines" last month, Cruz said she could not speak about the clinic and said, "I need to talk to Scott," referring to Cano's agent at the time, Scott Boras. Boras has since been replaced by agents at the Creative Artists Agency, but at the time said Cano had no connection to the clinic.
When reached again on her mobile phone Monday, Cruz denied having ever been a Biogenesis client.
"I met with a nurse who works for the clinic, but I met her outside the clinic just to talk to her about a diet program they have for women," she said. "I never went through with it once she explained what it was. I thought it was just a diet/nutritional thing, but it was diet, nutrition, pills and stuff."
Cruz said she was introduced to the nurse "by another person" and said she never followed up to find out what sort of pills the nurse was recommending. She said she could not remember the nurse's name.
A man described by several sources as Cruz's boyfriend, Orlando Dager, is also listed as a client in the July and August records. He is listed as having owed $300 each month, but having paid $100 and $150. Dager could not be reached for comment, and Cruz declined to describe their relationship or anything about him.
"I can't speak on his behalf," she said.
The typed documents showing Cruz and Dager do not include the names of major league players, as other handwritten documents from the clinic have shown.
The clinic, which closed in September after Bosch had a financial dispute with some of his associates, offered weight-loss services, often involving the use of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and human growth hormone, both of which are illegal without a prescription and banned by Major League Baseball. Bosch, who is not a licensed physician, is the subject of a Florida Department of Health investigation into whether he illegally practiced medicine, sources have said.
So far almost 30 major and minor league baseball players have been connected to the clinic, including Rodriguez, Cabrera, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz and Francisco Cervelli. Cabrera, who served a 50-game suspension after a positive PED test last season, has declined comment, while the others have denied receiving or using PEDs. MLB has not interviewed Cano or any of the players but has been in talks with the MLB Players Association to set up interviews with any players connected to the clinic.
Major League Baseball has had several members of its investigations department in Florida over the past several months, attempting to gather evidence that could be used to suspend any players who used or received banned substances. Sources told "Outside the Lines" that at least three former Bosch associates have cooperated with MLB investigators, although they were not aware if the associates had provided information that would justify a suspension in lieu of a positive drug test. As The New York Times first reported, MLB paid for some Biogenesis documents, but the documents themselves are unlikely to be enough for a suspension unless someone who had a direct connection to the documents is willing to swear out an affidavit to their legitimacy and accuracy.
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