Pirates RHP Santana Banned 80 Games For Drugs, Out This Year
Jun 28, 2020, 4:33 PM
Edgar Santana #37 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the Opening Day home game at Wrigley Field on April 10, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Pirates defeated the Cubs 8-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Edgar Santana will miss all of the abbreviated 2020 season after being suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
MLB announced Sunday that Santana tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
The 28-year-old Santana is in the process of a comeback after missing all of the 2019 season following reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in September 2018. Santana is 3-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 88 career games, all with the Pirates. He worked five hitless innings of relief in spring training before the MLB season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington called Santana’s suspension “disappointing.”
BREAKING: Major League Baseball has suspended Pirates reliever Edgar Santana for 80 games without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
From: @JMackeyPG ⬇️https://t.co/KKOH5sCuGd
— Post-Gazette Sports (@PGSportsNow) June 28, 2020
Santana’s salary of $581,500 was reduced to $215,370 due to the shortened season, and he will lose all of it. He received a $60,000 salary advance, however, and that money will be repaid to the team from the International Tax Fund.
