Pirates' Marte lands 80-game ban after positive PED test

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be without center fielder Starling Marte until after the All-Star break, as the 28-year-old has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance, the league announced Tuesday.

Marte, who in a statement attributed the positive test to "neglect and lack of knowledge," will not be eligible to play in the postseason should the Pirates qualify.

"Neglect and lack of knowledge have led me to this mistake with the high price to pay of being away from the field that I enjoy and love so much," Marte said in a statement, per FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. "With much embarrassment and helplessness, I ask for forgiveness for unintentionally disrespecting so many people who have trusted in my work and have supported me so much. I promise to learn the lesson that this ordeal has left me."

In a statement, Pirates president Frank Coonelly said the club fully supports Major League Baseball's joint drug agreement and expressed his disappointment "that Starling put himself, his teammates and the organization in this position."

"We will continue to fight for the division title with the men who are here and will look forward to getting Starling back after the All-Star break," he said.

Marte, a two-time Gold Glover and an All-Star for the first time in 2016, was off to a slow start this year, hitting just .241/.288/.370 (79 OPS+) with two home runs, two stolen bases, and a 28.8 percent strikeout rate through his first 13 games. Widely considered among the game's top outfielders, Marte - who compiled more WAR (16.7) over the previous four seasons than all but four outfielders - had replaced Andrew McCutchen in center field this year after spending the majority of his career in left.

With Marte out for the next three months, the Pirates may consider moving McCutchen, the five-time All-Star, back into center field, and will likely entertain recalling top prospect Austin Meadows from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Marte on the active roster.