Robinson Cano the Seattle Mariners Second Baseman has been suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s PED Agreement. The report was initially from the Dominican Republic has been since confirmed by Ken Rosenthal.
Source confirms: #Mariners’ Cano will be suspended 80 games for violating baseball’s joint drug agreement. https://t.co/rIcEp7Sztd
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 15, 2018
Just this weekend, Cano was placed on the Disabled List for his fractured hand and the Mariners were preparing to be without Cano for a while but now he is going to be out for quite some time. Cano tested positive for a diuretic which is used as a masking agent for PED’s which is what lead to his suspension. Cano released the following statement after learning of the league’s ruling on his case.
The Major League Baseball Players Association is releasing the following statement on behalf of Robinson Canó: pic.twitter.com/PIirT9gs7g
— #MLBPA (@MLB_PLAYERS) May 15, 2018
It would appear from the statement that Cano did not use PED’s, however, was given the diuretic for a medical ailment unbeknownst that it was against Major League Baseball’s PED agreement. Cano’s suspension will begin immediately while he serves his time on the disabled list and when he returns the Mariners will have 42 games remaining in the 2018 regular season. However, if the Mariners make it to the postseason, Cano will be ineligible to play.
The Mariners will now have to find a replacement for Cano not only for the recovery of his injury but now for this 80 game suspension. The Mariners will most likely look to Gordon Beckham, or Andrew Romine within the organization or look outside of the organization. General Manager Jerry Dipoto will have to decide what the best move for the ballclub is, to use the players within the organization or to look to conduct a trade with or possibly free agency to find an adequate replacement for Cano.
