New York Mets star second baseman Robinson Cano will be suspended for 162 regular season games and will forfeit $24 million in salary after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
According to a statement from MLB, the drug Cano tested positive for is the steroid Stanozolol.
The punishment is determined by the fact that this is Cano's second offence. He tested positive for a PED in May of 2018, while he was a remember of the Seattle Mariners, and was suspended 80 games.
Cano, who turned 38 in October, is under contract through the 2023 season earning $24 million a season. In the abbreviated 2020 campaign, the five-time Silver Slugger hit .316/.352/.544 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 49 games. It was his highest batting average in a season since 2010, when he finished third in voting for the American League MVP award.
“We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. "The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB’s efforts toward eliminating performance-enhancing substances from the game.”
The suspension and forfeiture of $24 million in salary could open up some possibilities for the Mets in the free agent market. That could include signing infielder DJ LeMahieu away from the Yankees or outfielder George Springer from the Astros, among others.
