Todd Wills 11y

Report: Nelson Cruz to accept 50-game ban

Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz has decided to accept a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Monday for his connection to the Biogenesis case, according to a report by CBSSports.com.

The suspensions, which are expected to be announced Monday afternoon, include 12 or more players, including former Rangers slugger Alex Rodriguez, who is expected to appeal.

Cruz has also changed agents as he's no longer with the ACES group and is now represented by Adam Katz, who's with Wasserman Sports, a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Katz also represents Bartolo Colon and Edinson Volquez and helped guide them through their PED suspension issues.

Cruz had left open the option of appealing his coming suspension with the Rangers locked in a tight division race with Oakland in the American League West. But in the final year of his contract, Cruz reportedly will accept his suspension so he can play a full season in 2014 as he enters free agency.

By accepting his suspension with 50 games left in the regular season, it is unknown if Cruz will be able to return for the postseason.

The Rangers are back in contention to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. They are 2 1/2 games behind A's in the American League West after winning two out of three games over the weekend in Oakland. Cruz homered in both the Rangers' wins.

Cruz's suspension is a major blow to the Rangers' offense. He leads the team with 27 home runs and 76 RBIs. Cruz hit three home runs in his last five games.

Cruz said Sunday he had not decided whether he would appeal a suspension.

"Tomorrow it's going to happen," Cruz said before Sunday's game against Oakland. "Whatever my decision is going to be ... I haven't decided what it's going to be."

Cruz was asked Sunday if he expected to be in the Rangers' lineup Monday when they open a three-game series against the Angels at Anaheim.

"Yeah. That's my hope," Cruz said.

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