Pirates star Marte banned 80 games
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — Major League Baseball suspended Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte for 80 games Tuesday after he tested positive for a performanceenhancing drug.
MLB said Marte tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. He’ll be eligible to return in mid- July.
Marte, 28, was anAll- Star for the first time last season and moved from left field to center field in the offseason after winning his second Gold Glove. He is hitting .241 with two home runs and seven RBI this season.
Marte said in a statement that ‘‘ neglect and lack of knowledge led to this mistake.’’
‘‘ 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,’’ he said.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly he was ‘‘ disappointed that Starling put himself, his teammates and the organization in this position.’’
‘‘ We will continue to fight for the [ National League Central] title with the men who are here and will look forward to getting Starling back after the All- Star break,’’ he said.
Marte addressed the team during a closed- door meeting before the Pirates’ road game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
‘‘ Whatwas said in here was strictly between us, between brothers and teammates,’’ infielder Josh Harrison said. ‘‘ It’s something he needs to deal with on his own, but if he ever needs to reach out, just know it’s not exile. People make mistakes .’’
Barring postponements, Marte will be eligible to return for the Pirates’ home game July 18 against the Milwaukee Brewers andwill lose 91 days of pay from his $ 5 million salary, which comes to $ 2,486,339.
Under a change to MLB’s drug agreement in collective bargaining during the offseason, Marte won’t get paid on days off during the ban. Under the old agreement, he would have lost 80 days of pay, which would have amounted to $ 2,185,782. Another change in the drug agreement means Marte won’t be credited for major- league service during the suspension.
Under the drug agreement, Marte will be ineligible for the playoffs this season if the Pirates were to advance that far. It’s a task made considerably harder with Marte out of the mix for the next three months. The Pirates already are missing third baseman Jung Ho Kang, who still is awaiting a work visa in his native South Korea after being convicted of driving under the influence in February.
‘‘ It’s an unfortunate circumstance,’’ right- hander Gerrit Cole said. ‘‘ We have a lot of season left, and we have a lot of games that we have to win. Unfortunately, the next 80 are going to be without Starling, and we’re going to have to figure out how to get through it. That’s what this franchise is built on and what this team is built on. It’s next man up, and I would expect nothing less.’’