Big news in Mets land was just announced on Twitter via Ken Rosenthal:
Among players accepting 50-game suspensions: #Rangers’ Cruz, #Tigers’ Peralta, #Phlllies’ Bastardo, #Mets’ Valdespin, #Padres’ Cabrera.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
Up until right now, there had been no other indication that Jordany Valdespin was mentioned on the Biogenesis list.
Valdespin was hitting a paltry .188/.250/.316 before his demotion to AAA Las Vegas last month. In 16 games at AAA he is hitting a gaudy .466/.537/.759 in 67 plate appearances.
He recently was reinstated after a three-game suspension for inciting a bench-clearing brawl after showing up a pitcher after hitting a home run. 51’s manager Wally Backman was suspended two games for his role in the incident.
Rosenthal also reported that Binghamton outfielder Cesar Puello has also accepted a 50-game suspension, although Puello’s name has long been connected with Biogenesis. Puello was hitting .328/.405/.550 at the AA level this year, with 16 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Keep checking back for more details as they become available.
This piece was updated once at 1:01 p.m.
To me the intriguing thing is what this opens up at AAA, and maybe speaks to what they already knew. I mean, clearly this is the death knell for JV with the Mets.
I mean, Flores will almost certainly move directly over to 2B once again. Could it be that they knew JV would get dropped … and that’s the reason Flores didn’t come up from AAA?
One way or the other, who moves up to AAA?
I don’t know for sure, but I’d imagine Danny Muno or Josh Rodriguez would make the most sense to go up to Vegas. I also see Cory Vaughn going back up to AA to replace Puello.
Id release both ASAP.
I’m with you Chris. No reason to support either of them, i don’t care if they have success elsewhere, but not on the Mets please.
I dont care where they end up. Their presence on the team is a cancer.
So 14 total have been sanctioned for doping. I find it quite distressing that 2 and perhaps 3 of the total are Mets. That number depends on when F-Mart was doping. Three players makes 20% of the total, and that is simply shocking and unacceptable.
So far everyone been talking about individuals, but there are multiples on a number of teams, which makes me think legal conspiracy involved. What will we find that links all these dopers? Is it U Miami? Is it Miami? Is it a set of agents?
Is A-Fraud in charge of recruiting other New Yorkers? Did F-Mart get another Astro involved after knowing the score? Is there a reason 13/14 are Latino? I hope the operation of how the web operated becomes known.
Aren’t they all from Dominican Republic?
Priceless statements by Mets players on accepting the punishment for doping. Both have the same lawyer, and 5 others with the same lawyer said the same thing as well.
Cesar Puello:
Today, I was notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. Out of respect for the Mets’ organization, my teammates, and my family, I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain mistakes during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those mistakes. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets’ organization, Mets’ fans and my family, and ultimately helping the club win a championship.
Jordany Valdespin:
I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain errors in judgment during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those errors. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets’ organization, Mets’ fans and my family, and look forward to contributing to the Mets in 2014.
Too bad about Puello..but he’s sort of deep in the farm system so he can get past it. Mets fans are already done with JV so he’s done for.
This is the last straw for JV. Just get rid of this headache and this is coming from a guy who really liked him. Well, at least initially.