Free agent righty Chris Perez has been hit with a 50-game suspension, the league announced (h/t to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy). The penalty was assessed for use of a drug of abuse, with the length based on the fact that this is Perez’s second such offense.
Perez, 29, was the long-time closer for the Indians before signing as a free agent last year with the Dodgers. He opened the 2015 season at Triple-A for the Brewers after inking a minor league deal, but opted out of his deal earlier in the season.
Though he’s had some very good years along the way, Perez has struggled to deliver consistent results while dealing with command issues at times. He still has a big arm, having averaged over 94 mph on his four-seamer last year, and seemed likely to get another shot at the big leagues in the relatively near term.
All told, Perez owns a 3.51 ERA over 379 1/3 MLB frames, with 8.6 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9. He allowed eight earned runs on 14 hits and four walks in his 7 2/3 minor league frames earlier this year, striking out just three batters in the process.
MLB’s finest pothead returns! Kenny Powers would be proud of him…if KP was a real person.
I didn’t think they tested MLB players for pot?
How can they suspend a free agent? I get that he will begin his suspension if and when he is signed, but why suspend him now when he isn’t employed by MLB. If they announce his suspension now, then shouldn’t his suspension begin immediately?
Players are subject to drug testing until they retire. Since his last contract was a minor league deal, he was subject to testing for recreational drugs as well as PEDs, stimulants, and masking agents. A player can’t serve a suspension unless he’s under contract because he would suffer no monetary loss.
Without real-time updating I did not realize that you had already provided the answer. I was called away in the middle of typing my response and only saw yours after mine posted.
As stated above the length of his suspension indicates it’s not his first positive test and therefore is most probably in the Treatment Program. He must still participate in the treatment program even if he is a free agent as he is still an active member of the MLBPA.
Perez pleaded nolo contendere to a drug possession charge two years ago. I don’t know how long a player stays in the treatment program, but being found guilty or pleading NC to a drug charge counts as a violation of the Joint (heh) Drug Agreement.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/09/cleveland_indians_closer_chris.html
The other option is “reasonable cause testing”. The only time there is mandatory testing for drugs of abuse is if a player is in the treatment program, otherwise drugs of abuse are not tested for unless there is reasonable suspicion and that evidence is presented to the MLB/MLBPA Drug Treatment Board. If they determine that there is reasonable cause testing is done within 48 hours. A drug possession charge would automatically bring him before the Drug Treatment Board but a treatment program is not always deemed mandatory.
Perez’s last contract was a minor league deal, and minor leaguers are tested for recreational drugs. Thank you for the info on reasonable cause testing.
If I remember correctly.. Perez can still pitch in the Indy leagues.. Even NPB, or Taiwan if he chooses and they allow him.
He’s mad a bit of cash along the way. Could conceivably afford the major cut in pay.
Yes, Kameron Loe is suspended and signed with the Atlantic League Bridgeport Bluefish last week.
True, cash wouldn’t be a factor this time in his career. NPB, KBO, CPBL, Indy leagues sign people who have ran foul of PEDs in the States. Many were re-signed in Japan after there names came out on the Mitchell Report
“I was gonna make a comeback, but then I got high…”
But remember if you mix alcohol with cocaine it’s totally fine so long as you let the Comish know before your next drug test.
Take that up with an arbitrator.
This is the guy who had reefer shipped to his house in his dog’s name, is it not? Just that alone should get you tested until you hang ’em up. Unless, of course, he used his dog’s pee as his sample, his dog being a well-known pot-head.
Why would he have bud shipped anywhere? Is his personality so horrible that he doesn’t have any friends? It’d take some pretty good smoke to want to import it like that.
You are correct. He used the USPS. Drug dog alerted on the package.
You’d think a union guy like Perez would always request that the teamsters at UPS deliver his green. Green is what Brown can do for you!
Well….so much for my mandatory pot supplement platform as the next baseball commissioner.
Get him out of baseball already. He’s dumber than dirt.