Pirates' Santana suspended 80 games for positive PED test
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Edgar Santana has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone, Major League Baseball announced on Sunday.
"The Pirates are disappointed to learn of today's news that Edgar Santana has received an 80-game suspension as a result of a violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement that Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette obtained. "Because of the confidentiality requirements of (the program), we will not have further comment on this matter."
The suspension means Santana will miss the 2020 campaign, as this season has been shortened to just 60 games. It's unclear if the remainder of his ban will carry over into 2021. MLB is reportedly allowing Cleveland pitcher Emmanuel Clase to serve his entire 80-game PED suspension during the shortened season.
Santana didn't pitch for the Pirates in 2019, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. In 2018, he emerged as a key reliever for the team, posting a 3.26 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 54 strikeouts over 69 appearances.
The 28-year-old was expected to again play a big role out of the club's bullpen this year. He didn't allow a run in five innings before spring training was halted in March.
Santana isn't eligible for arbitration until the 2021 offseason.