MIAMI (AP) – A lawyer for a former University of Miami pitching coach is seeking a wide range of Major League Baseball records for the coach’s upcoming trial on illegal performance-enhancing drug distribution charges, including details of an immunity deal given to the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez.
Frank Quintero Jr. wants a federal judge to order MLB and the Miami U.S. attorney’s office to turn over the records for the defense of the ex-coach, Lazaro “Laser” Collazo, in the case centered on the now-closed Biogenesis of America clinic. Quintero claims in a motion filed Thursday that his previous requests for the documents have been refused.
The documents, Quintero said in court papers, “go directly to the heart of the charges against Mr. Collazo” and could show how much MLB has influenced his prosecution – allegedly by paying witnesses, buying stolen documents and influencing witness testimony.
“The full extent of MLB’s involvement in the present investigation and the prosecution of Mr. Collazo is yet unknown,” Quintero said.
MLB said in a statement Friday: “We have no comment beyond that there is absolutely no truth to these claims.”