Twins get 80 game suspension in return for signing Santana
Santana will be suspended for eighty games, so the Twins can not use their most expensive free agent ever, for half of the season. After a couple of lesser years in 2012 and 2013 with the Angels and the Royals, Santana came back strong with the Braves where he posted a 14-10 record with a 3.95 ERA. This earned him the four year deal that he signed with the Twins.
In a short statement after he got the news of the suspension, Santana said the follwoing: “This is unexpected news for me and my family,” Santana’s statement read. “I am issuing this statement so the public knows where I stand. First, my deepest apologies to my family, fans, colleagues, teammates and my current employer, the Minnesota Twins. I am very disappointed that I tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. I am frustrated that I can’t pinpoint how the substance in question entered my body. I would never knowingly take anything illegal to enhance my performance. What I can guarantee is I never knowingly took anything illegal to enhance my performance. That’s just not me, never has been and never will.”
I do remember another player who said something similar after he was caught. In fact Rafael Palmeiro first said that he never had used PEDs. How about Ryan Braun? Another cheater that claimed that he did not use PEDs. We all know better now. Sorry, but I don’t buy this. Do you really think that someone will put Stanozolol in your food or drinks to frame you Ervin? Just be honest and admit that you used the crap.
The Twins will be without their projected nr. 2 starter during the first half of the season. They have replaced Santana with Mike Pelfrey and called up left-hander Aaron Thompson from Triple-A Rochester to fill the void in the bullpen.