Cleveland Indians outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended 162 games Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the 162-game ban for Byrd, noting he did not appeal the ruling. ESPN’s T.J. Quinn added that MLB provided additional information about the substance Byrd tested positive for:
Byrd issued a statement confirming his suspension, via Rosenthal’s official Facebook page:
The 38-year-old Byrd was previously suspended for 50 games because of a positive PED test in 2012. He has bounced around throughout his career, playing for 10 teams in 15 years.
The Indians signed Byrd to a minor league deal in March with the hope that he would provide the team with outfield depth. He’s been a valuable asset for Cleveland manager Terry Francona through the season’s first two months, as Michael Brantley has had two stints on the disabled list.
In 34 games this season, Byrd has posted a respectable .270/.326/.452 slash line. He is tied with Rajai Davis for the fifth-most home runs on the team with five.
Matthew Pouliot of Rotoworld.com noted Byrd’s power numbers spiked late in his career:
While the loss of Byrd does impact the Indians’ depth, they are not lacking options. Davis and Lonnie Chisenhall are the primary starters in center field and right field.
Jose Ramirez, who came up as a shortstop, has played 24 games in left field this season. Michael Martinez is a utility player who can start in the outfield. The Indians also have Tyler Naquin in Triple-A ready to bring up if they want to add another outfielder.
Given the length of Byrd’s suspension, his future looks bleak. He won’t be eligible to return until roughly June 1, 2017, at the age of 39. He was struggling to find work as a free agent this offseason before injuries opened the door in Cleveland. This suspension won’t make finding a new opportunity any easier.
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