NEW YORK (AP) — One unidentified major league player tested positive for a banned stimulant in the year ending with the World Series.Under the joint drug agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association, an initial positive test for a banned stimulant results in six additional urine tests over the next year rather than a suspension, and the identity is not announced. The positive test for an amphetamine was listed in the annual report issued Friday by the drug program's Independent Public Administrator.In the year ending with the 2017 World Series, there were two positive tests for banned stimulants that did not result in a suspension, one each for Adderall and D-Amphetamine.Players not on 40-man rosters are not covered by the union and are subject to the minor league drug program, which mandates is most cases a 50-game suspension for an initial stimulant violation.Major League Baseball conducted a record 11,526 drug tests, a 39 percent increase from two years ago, that... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Oscar De La Cruz has been suspended 80 games under Major League Baseball's drug program.The commissioner's office said Friday that the 23-year-old right-hander tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic and masking agent.De La Cruz is 6-7 with a 5.24 ERA in 16 starts this season at Double-A Tennessee, and is considered among the Cubs' top prospects. He is covered under the major league drug program because he is on the 40-man major league roster and is on option to Tennessee.The Cubs say that while they are "disappointed" in De La Cruz, they "will support him on his journey back."He is the ninth player suspended this year under the big league drug program. The others are Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.There have been 46 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Thursday that he learned of the suspension on Wednesday night as the White Sox pounded Baltimore 11-1."Obviously we were surprised, saddened and disappointed to learn of Welington's suspension." Hahn said. "He certainly has stood up and accepted responsibility for his actions. It doesn't change the fact that it's disappointing."I've gone through a lot of emotions over the last several hours,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Thursday that he learned of the suspension on Wednesday night as the White Sox pounded Baltimore 11-1."Obviously we were surprised, saddened and disappointed to learn of Welington's suspension." Hahn said. "He certainly has stood up and accepted responsibility for his actions. It doesn't change the fact that it's disappointing."I've gone through a lot of emotions over the last several hours,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red-blood cell production and often turns up in test results for cyclists.Castillo apologized in a statement through the players' union, saying he has "let many people down." He pointed to an "extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct."General manager Rick Hahn said the team was "saddened and disappointed." Castillo, he said in a statement, "understands that he has negatively affected the team and has fallen short of the expectations we have of our players."He is the eighth player suspended this year under the major league drug-testing program.Castillo is in his ninth major league season. The 31-year-old Dominican is batting .267 with six homers and 15 RBIs this... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office cited use of EPO. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the red blood cell production and often has turned up in test results for cyclists.He is the eighth player suspended this year under the major league drug-testing program.Castillo is in his ninth major league season. The 31-year-old Dominican is batting .267 with six homers and 15 RBIs this year on a team that is 15-31.Barring rainouts, he would be eligible to return Aug, 24 at Detroit. He would lose more than $3.5 million of his $7.25 million salary, which covers the period of 80 games plus the 11 off-days during that span.He is due $7.25 million next season, and the White Sox have an $8 million option for 2020 with a $500,000 buyout.Castillo has a .259 career average with 86 homers and 298 RBIs. He also has played... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle already knew Robinson Cano would be out of the Mariners lineup for several weeks, the result of a broken bone in his right hand.His absence will be significantly longer.The All-Star second baseman was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday for violating baseball's drug agreement, becoming among the most prominent players disciplined under the sport's anti-doping rules.Major League Baseball's announcement was a stunning development for a middle-of-the-lineup stalwart and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he did not realize it was banned."For more than fifteen years, playing professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life," Cano said. "I would never... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle already knew Robinson Cano would be out of the Mariners lineup for several weeks, the result of a broken bone in his right hand.His absence will be significantly longer.The All-Star second baseman was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday for violating baseball's drug agreement, becoming among the most prominent players disciplined under the sport's anti-doping rules.Major League Baseball's announcement was a stunning development for a middle-of-the-lineup stalwart and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he did not realize it was banned."For more than fifteen years, playing professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life," Cano said. "I would never... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games for violating baseball's joint drug agreement.The league announced Cano's suspension Tuesday, a stunning development for the stalwart in the middle of the Mariners' lineup and a club expected to contend for a postseason spot in the American League. Cano tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic. In a statement released through the players' association, Cano said, "This substance was given to me by a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic to treat a medical ailment." He said he didn't realize it was banned.Cano is the most prominent player to be busted since Melky Cabrera was suspended in 2012 while leading the National League in hitting. There have been 36 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program and six in addition to Cano under the big league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read, Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley, Kansas City outfielder Jorge... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston catcher Oscar Hernandez, Chicago Cubs pitcher David Garner, St. Louis pitcher Matt Pearce and Pittsburgh shortstop Andrew Walker have been suspended for 50 games each under baseball's minor league drug program.Hernandez, Garner and Pearce each had second positive tests for a drug of abuse, the commissioner's office said Friday. Walker was disciplined for an unspecified violation.The 24-year-old Hernandez played 18 games for Arizona in 2016 and four the following year. He hit .197 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 67 games last year for Jackson in the Double-A Texas League and is on the roster of Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League.Garner, a 25-year-old right-hander, is with the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He was 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 35 relief appearances last year for Double-A Tennessee and Iowa.Peace, a right-hander who turned 24 last month, was 9-12 with a 3.08 ERA in 25 starts last year for Double-A Springfield of the Texas... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.The commissioner's office made the announcement Saturday.Bonifacio was banned after a positive test for Boldenone. The ban will begin on opening day."It really kind of made me sick to my stomach," Royals manager Ned Yost said.The 24-year-old Bonifacio made his major league debut last season, hitting .255 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games."He is an incredible person who just made a mistake," general manager Dayton Moore said in a statement. "Jorge will have our full support as he deals with the consequences of this violation."Kansas City was reshuffling its outfield this spring after Lorenzo Cain left as a free agent, and Bonifacio was competing for playing time in the field and at designated hitter.The Royals recently signed free agent outfielder Jon Jay. Paulo Orlando and several others are also trying to earn time.Bonifacio's suspension cleared a roster spot for third baseman Mike Moustakas, who re-signed with the Royals this week after becoming a free agent last fall.Bonifacio is the fourth player suspended this year under the major league drug program. Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley previously were penalized.

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Tampa Bay pitcher Steve Geltz and three other minor leaguers have been suspended for drug violations.The penalties were announced Saturday by the commissioner's office.Geltz was banned 100 games after a third positive test for a drug of abuse. The 30-year-old righty was on Philadelphia's Triple-A roster.In 2015, Geltz set a Rays record by retiring 32 straight batters. He last played in the majors in 2016. In four seasons with the Angels and Tampa Bay, he was a combined 2-9 with two saves and a 4.23 ERA in 110 games, all but two in relief.Tampa Bay catcher Nick Ciuffo, on the Triple-A roster, drew a 50-game penalty for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.San Diego Padres pitcher Alex Cunningham was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Amphetamine, a stimulant. He was at Single-A.Pittsburgh second baseman Mitchell Tolman, on the Double-A roster, drew a 50-game suspension after a second positive test for a drug of abuse.There have been 16 players suspended this year under the minor league program and three under the major league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley.

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston minor league catcher Jake Romanski has been suspended 100 games following a positive amphetamine test. It is his second ban for a stimulant under the minor league drug program.In another minor league suspension Thursday, free-agent pitcher Landon Hughes was suspended 68 games. He tested positive for a chemical compound in Turinabol, a steroid used by East German athletes in the 1960s and weightlifters in recent years.Twelve players have been suspended this year under the minor league program and three under the major league program: Houston pitcher Dean Deetz, Washington catcher Raudy Read and Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley.Romanski was suspended for 50 games in December 2016 following a positive amphetamine test. The 27-year-old player hit .250 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 48 games last year for Double-A Portland of the Eastern League and Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.Hughes was selected by Atlanta in the seventh round of the 2013 amateur draft. The 23-year-old right-hander was released by the Braves on Jan. 24.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington catcher Raudy Read has been suspended for the first 80 games of the season following a positive test for Boldenone under Major League Baseball's drug-testing program.The commissioner's office announced the discipline Wednesday, after it was upheld by arbitrator Mark Irvings.Read signed with the Nationals in 2011 and made his big league debut last September, going 3 for 11 (.273) in eight games. He said he was tested seven times last year."I have never in my life knowingly used a banned substance," he said in a statement released by the players' association. "I don't take supplements or anything else on top of my regular diet, which consists simply of chicken, beef, rice and vegetables. So when I heard I tested positive during a routine drug test this winter, I was shocked. I was convinced there had to be a mistake."Boldenone is known for its use in horses and is a banned performance-enhancing substance under baseball's drug program."Without being able to identify... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former top Astros prospect Jon Singleton and Houston pitcher Dean Deetz have been suspended after testing positive for banned drugs.Deetz became the first player penalized this year under the major league drug program. Singleton was the eighth under the minor league program.The commissioner's office announced the penalties Tuesday.Deetz drew an 80-game ban for a positive test of Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing substance.Deetz has never played in the majors but is on Houston's 40-man roster. The 24-year-old righty was 7-6 with a 4.25 ERA last year as a starter and reliever at Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi.In a statement released by the players' union, Deetz said, "I have no idea how I could possibly have tested positive."Singleton was banned 100 games after a third positive test for a drug of abuse. The 26-year-old first baseman played 114 games for Houston in 2014-15, hitting .171 with 14 home runs. Singleton spent last year at Double-A, batting .205 with 18 homers.Prior to reaching the majors, in an interview with The Associated Press, Singleton spoke of his battle to overcome marijuana and alcohol abuse.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Former top Astros prospect Jon Singleton and Houston pitcher Dean Deetz have been suspended after testing positive for banned drugs.Deetz became the first player penalized this year under the major league drug program. Singleton was the eighth under the minor league program.The commissioner's office announced the penalties Tuesday.Deetz drew an 80-game ban for a positive test of Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing substance.Deetz has never played in the majors but is on Houston's 40-man roster. The 24-year-old righty was 7-6 with a 4.25 ERA last year as a starter and reliever at Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi.In a statement released by the players' union, Deetz said, "I have no idea how I could possibly have tested positive."Singleton was banned 100 games after a third positive test for a drug of abuse. The 26-year-old first baseman played 114 games for Houston in 2014-15, hitting .171 with 14 home runs. Singleton spent last year at Double-A, batting .205 with 18 homers.Prior to reaching the majors, in an interview with The Associated Press, Singleton spoke of his battle to overcome marijuana and alcohol abuse.___For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball