Ramos and Giancarlo baseball’s Odd Couple
but the two brothers escaped the more serious punishment of losing their certification.
“I was the only one who had dealings with the website,” Nunez told The News in 2012. “Neither Seth nor Sam had any dealings with the website, nor did anyone else in the firm.”
But now, six years later, Nunez paints a different story in the complaint.
“When their machinations to cover up the use of PEDs by ACES client Melky Cabrera failed, Defendants threw Plaintiff under the proverbial bus to protect their own reputation and minimize their own liability by forcing Plaintiff to take sole responsibility for their conduct,” the complaint says.
Less than a year after the Melky fake website imbroglio, Nunez was one of the key figures at the center of Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch’s PED scandal. Bosch and his Coral Gables anti-aging clinic provided PEDs to numerous professional baseball players, including the biggest fish in the sport at the time, Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez. Over half a dozen players suspended by MLB for their ties to Biogenesis were ACES clients.
Nunez was ultimately one of several defendants in the federal Biogenesis case, and he ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced in 2015 to three months in jail for his role in the scandal. A-Rod served a season-long suspension in 2014 due to his links to Bosch and Biogenesis.
Nunez claims in the complaint that slugger Nelson Cruz, who was also suspended by MLB in the Biogenesis matter, was treated by Bosch with PEDs. Nunez claims that “under the Defendant Sam Levinson’s supervision and with his approval, (Nunez) picked up supplies for Cruz at Biogenesis.” Nunez claims one of those supplies was human growth hormone, banned by Major League Baseball.
“Defendant Sam Levinson was pleased to hear that Cruz would receive PEDs from Bosch, because Levinson knew that it would improve Cruz’s performance, and therefore increase ACES’ commissions,” the complaint says.
The Levinsons represent such boldface clients as the Mets’ ailing captain David Wright, former AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, Mets reliever Jeurys Familia, and retired stars like former Yankee catcher Jorge Posada.
Seth Levinson did not return an email for comment. The Players Association and MLB also did not return emails from The News.
The complaint names former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski as having signed an affidavit “that he regularly provided ACES clients with PEDs, with the Defendants’ knowledge and approval.”
Nunez is seeking damages of “not less than $3 million,” and accuses the defendants of breach of contract, tortious interference, and conspiracy to defraud.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Mets reliever A.J. Ramos remains close with new Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton from their days as teammates with the Marlins, to the point the duo is considering sharing a place to live this season in New York.
Who else immediately thought of Dr. Peter Venkman’s “dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria” line from Ghostbusters?
“We’re still looking at that. We’re still looking at places. We might live together,” Ramos said Monday at Mets camp. “Definitely for the Subway Series I’m going to be setting some traps for him. You know, might mess up his sleep a little bit, stuff like that. But no, we’re still looking. Nothing set in stone just yet.”
Ramos, who was acquired by the Mets from Miami before the trade deadline last July, joked that Stanton’s $325 million contract means he’d have to buy all of the groceries and pay the rent.
But Ramos envisions superstar-level production in the Bronx from his potential roommate after Stanton copped NL MVP honors with a league-leading 59 home runs last year with the Marlins.
“I think he’s gonna do good. I mean, he can get jammed and hit a ball out there,” Ramos said. “That park (Yankee Stadium) is very small, so I mean, that’s a plus. He’s going from Miami where you have to square one up to get one out, to New York, where he can basically burp a ball out. So I think he’s gonna do pretty good.”
Having known him for several years, Ramos also believes Stanton’s laid-back personality will mesh well with the Yankees and make him a good fit in New York.
“He’s always, like, a level person. He’s like, never too high, never too low. So I think he’s gonna do well,” Ramos said. “If he was a very emotional player or something like that, I think it could affect him, but I don’t think so. I think he’ll be the same person.”
Either way, Ramos has been dismayed by the latest fire sale in Miami since Yanks legend Derek Jeter’s investment group bought the team last year, with Stanton, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich all traded during the offseason.
“I mean, it’s tough to be a Marlin fan, I think, for those fans. I feel bad for the fans this year,” Ramos said. “They get attached to players and they get shipped off and stuff. But I think, hopefully they’re doing it for the better.
“Look, Miami’s a great city. I’d like for that team to be good, as well. It’s fun to go in there and play some dogfights in there, you know what I mean? It’s kind of crazy what’s going on over there, but hopefully it’s gonna work out for them.”
The Mets certainly are hoping Ramos’ first full year in their bullpen will work out for them. He posted a 4.74 ERA over 21 appearances following the trade last season, but Ramos had saved 92 games with a 2.79 ERA over the previous two and a half years in Miami.
He indicated he’s prepared for and is on board with new manager Mickey Callaway’s plan to not define specific roles in the bullpen, with Ramos and fellow relievers Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins and Anthony Swarzak sharing time in the latter innings.
“I think we can be good. I think we have some guys that have shown they can compete at high levels in stressful situations. It’s just about being more consistent,” Ramos said. “Preparing for that, you just have to be ready to pitch whenever your name is called. It’s not my job to define the roles, that’s his job. What my job is, is when my name is called, is to go out there and do some work and put some zeroes up.
“I think that’s the way the trend right now is going; everyone’s kind of doing whatever in the bullpen. There’s really not a set closer, but however it is, if we get wins, I think that’s the best way to go. I don’t think anybody’s worried about any roles or anything like that.” AP