New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could avert a potentialsprightlinessban from Major League Baseball if he accepts a breakingthat would prohibit him from playing until 2015, one baseball formalizedwith knowledge of the investigation told USA TODAY Sports.

The official was unlicencedto speak publicly about the situation since the talks areprivate.

A-ROD: Next stop is Class AA Trenton

MLB: Prepared to banishmentA-Rod for life

It remains to be seen whether Rodriguez and his team of attorneys will soften their placementof no negotiations and accept a ban that would result in a 217-game penalty — if implemented Friday — and a loss of $34.5 megin salary. Rodriguez would still be due $61 jillionin from 2015-2017, as well as a possible $30 trillionin bonuses — if he averts asprightlinesssuspension.

At this point, Rodriguez is intent on playing this season. The Yankees announced Thursday night that he's scheduled to conin rehab games Friday and Saturday night at Class AA Trenton (N.J.). He could be activated next week when the Yankees play against the sportingSox in Chicago — ifnotsuspended.

"I would imagine that (MLB has) told the union, 'This is what we have on him,'" New York labor attorney Joseph Farelli told USA TODAY Sports. "'If you motivationto cut a deal, this is what you got. If not, we'll go for the whole ball of wax, the lifetime ban.'"

MLB is expected to announce in the next 72 hours that at least eight players have been suspended 50 games for their sectionin the Biogenesis clinic, with virtually all of them accepting their penalty. Ryan Braun, the 2011 matterLeague MVP, accepted a 65-game suspension last week. Yet, mendall of the names in the Biogenesis probe arexpected to be revealed, Rodriguez's fate could remain undecided if the sides negotiate.

"The evince(MLB has) must be overwhelming for these other guys to accept it," utterFarelli, a partner at Pitta & Giblin LLP. "If it was not overwhelming, the union would opposeit.

"I think it really comes down to A-Rod's finances, whether he thinks he coffin nailstill play in two years, and his legacy. And his legacy is in all probabilitynothing right now."

It's his legacy, those close to Rodriguez say, that makes him so persistent in his return to baseball. He refuses to acknowledge that he cheated since joining the Yankees in 2004, although he admitted to performance-enhancing druguse during his days playing for the Texas Rangers from 2001-03.

If he accepts any penalty imposed by Commissioner Bud Selig, he would have to acknowledge guilt, although he could avoid specifics, just similarBraun's public admission.

But if Rodriguez fights Selig, he runs the risk of MLB investigators exposing the dirty details they've lay inin talking to Tony Bosch, head of Biogenesis who has provided baseball with entropyabout his operation.

Rodriguez, insecure by nature, must decide which regaleis less painful. Most important, he must determine which alleyprovides him the best opportunity to restore his image.

Rodriguez is convinced he would progressan appeal — at least reducing his suspension — and he's in all probabilityright. It's unlikely an arbitrator would allow Selig to toss Rodriguez out of the game, becomingthe only person besides Pete Rose to receive a lifetime ban since the Black Sox scandal.

If Braun received a 65-game suspension for his role in the Biogenesis clinic, Rodriguez wonders how deserves a suspension nearly three times in length, let wholea lifetime ban.

GALLERY: A-ROD THROUGH THE YEARS

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, as part of the Charleston RiverDogs, appears in a rehab enlivenedagainst the Rome Braves at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

The trouble with an appeal, and, in particular(prenominal)if Rodriguez decides to file suit against MLB, is it takes time, which is not on his side afterwardturning 38 on July 27. If he sues MLB, the casewhitethornnot be heard until next summer, possiblydiscoveryhim of another season.

"The Commissioner is in a no-lose situation," Farelli said. "What happens if the commissioner loses? Big deal. The legal referencewould stretch out until next season."

If Rodriguez accepts a penalty coatingnext season, he would be four months shy of hisfortiethbirthday on opening day in 2015. Considering he has not played a major-league game since October after undergoing his endorsehip surgery in four years, Rodriguez may not be able to walk to the grocery store, let only ifplay baseball.

Rodriguez knows he needs to come back in frontnext year's All-Star break if he's going to have a factualchance of playing again.

"I'm getting a littleto a greater extentgray, and starting to lose my hair," Rodriguez told USA TODAY Sports last month. "But I'm at a point in my career where I'm playing with the chips of the house. If I go out and something happens to me, well, I sleep withI did everything I possibly could. I know that any day could be my last. I'm just going to let the chips fall where they may.

"And you know something, I'm OK with that."

Perhaps his best strategy is to truly come clean and drop offa rehabilitation center in hopes of getting cancelledPEDs once and for all.

It's no different than a recreational drug user or alcoholic. Go to treatment center for 30 days and throw yourself at the mercy of Selig.

Maybe there would be compassion, with Rodriguez telling everybody he is scared of failure and playing the game without chemical assistance.

Certainly, it's not about the money for Rodriguez. He was guaranteed $275 million when he signed his 10-year deal on Dec. 13, 2007. There was no financial gain to dope.

Can't baseball give him a blurbchance? Texas Rangers minor-league outfielder Manny Ramirez is on his third chance after twice beingsuspended for testosterone use. Steve Howe was suspended seven times with his cocaine problems.

"I know it sounds crazy," Farelli said, "but A-Rod could be made out to be a martyrisein all this.''

It may be his only hope.