Abrupt end to a season
Pitcher David Paulino has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a PED.
David Paulino, who represented rotation depth for the Astros and is regarded as one of their best prospects, was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Paulino, 23, will not appeal his suspension, which spells the end of his season. The Dominican righthander won’t be eligible to be included on a postseason roster. He tested positive for Boldenone, a substance in violation of MLB’s drug prevention and treatment program. The ban was effective Saturday.
Paulino (2-0) had a 6.52 ERA in six starts with the Astros, whose rotation has been decimated by injuries. They will need a new starter for Wednesday’s game in Atlanta. It’s likely to be Joe Musgrove, who was optioned to Class AAA last weekend after his ERA inflated to 6.01.
Reliever Dayan Diaz was added to the Astros’ active roster before Saturday night’s 7-6 win over the New York Yankees as a replacement for Paulino, who won’t receive pay during his suspension. Astros manager A.J. Hinch called a team meeting before Saturday’s game to give the news to his players.
“It’s unfortunate,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “There’s not a lot I can say about it that hasn’t already been said. He’s going to be suspended for 80 (games). He won’t be eligible for the postseason.
“And it’s a shame because he was off to a good start with us this year and had proved that he can pitch and help at this level and now he’s not going to be able to do that this year or in the postseason. So we’ll have to wait until next year. I know he’s sorry about it and I know he will learn a lesson, but there’s not much that we can do at this point.”
‘Remorseful’
Paulino had left Minute Maid Park when MLB announced the news at 5:11 p.m. Saturday and was not available to reporters.
Luhnow said he had communicated with Paulino, who he said was “remorseful.”
“He feels bad about it,” Luhnow said. “He feels bad that he’s put the organization in this position. But he’ll learn from it. I’m sure David’s going to have a long and fruitful major league career. I think that’s what’s going to happen. He’s got a lot of talent, for sure.”
Eighty games is the standard penalty for first-time offenders under the program agreed upon by MLB and the players’ union.
A synthetic derivative of the hormone testosterone, Boldenone is a steroid that also has been used in horse racing. Former Mets pitcher Jenrry Meija, serving a lifetime ban after three positive tests, is the most notable baseball player to test positive for Boldenone.
Paulino is the first active Astros major leaguer suspended for PEDs at least dating to Luhnow’s first season in 2012. They’ve had several minor leaguers suspended for 50 games, most recently reliever Brendan McCurry in December and shortstop Jonathan Arauz in April. Both were suspended after testing positive for methamphetamine.
Paulino will be on baseball’s restricted list while he serves his suspension, which means he won’t count against the 40-man roster while banned.
“He was disappointed in himself,” Hinch said. “I didn’t ask for a lot of details, to be honest with you. I don’t really need to know a lot of the details. The commissioner’s office has done a great job of implementing a program that we fully support and these are the consequences when players try to go against them.”
The Astros will add a pitcher to their roster before Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Yankees.
Diaz was in town because of a roster management gaffe by the Astros. They had made the decision late Friday night to call up Diaz from Class AAA and option Reymin Guduan before realizing Saturday afternoon that Diaz was not eligible to be recalled.
Players optioned from the majors to the minors must spend a minimum 10 days in the minors before they are recalled unless they are replacing an injured or suspended player. Roster snafu
Because Guduan’s demotion couldn’t be reversed, the Astros were prepared to put Paulino in the bullpen for Saturday’s game as an emergency option. His suspension altered that plan and while it allowed the Astros to add Diaz to the active roster for Saturday’s game it ensured they would play with only a seven-man bullpen until Sunday.
Luhnow took the blame for the error.
Diaz had been last optioned to Class AAA on only June 23.
Guduan won’t be eligible to return to the Astros until after the All-Star break unless he is recalled to replace an injured or suspended player.
Ashur Tolliver is the only healthy Class AAA reliever on the Astros’ 40man roster.