MLB Investigating A-Rod Over Illegal Card Games

According to

, Major League Baseball is investigating Alex Rodriguez over his alleged participation in illegal, underground poker games and he could face suspension if his participation is confirmed by the league. "We're talking to people involved in the investigation and we're taking this very seriously," said an MLB executive who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com on condition of anonymity. "Because he had been warned about this before, I would say a possible suspension would be very much in play." The allegations were first brought to light by RadarOnline.com, which reported that Rodriguez played in two poker games, one of which took place at the Beverly Hills Mansion of a record executive. According to a source at the game, "cocaine was openly used and a fight nearly broke out when one of the players refused to pay after losing more than a half-million dollars." The source reveals that once tensions escalated, Rodriguez attempted to distance himself from the altercation. "He just shook his head, not knowing what the hell happened," the whistle-blower revealed. "He didn't want to deal with it at all. He was like, 'OK, whatever. It's your game.' I would estimate A-Rod lost, like, a few thousand dollars that night. After everything that happened, he paid up and left." In 2005, A-Rod was warned by both the Yankees and MLB commissioner Bud Selig about gambling in underground poker clubs. "Bud's totally fed up with him," said a baseball insider. "It's like there's something new with him every day and it's impossible to keep up with it." Officials were concerned that Rodriguez's involvement with gamblers who might be betting on baseball games could result in a Pete Rose-type lifetime ban from baseball.