MLB suspends Romero and Mitre 50 games each

January 7, 9:12 AM
by Alex Brown, MLB Examiner

Major League Baseball announced the suspensions of pitchers J.C. Romero and Sergio Mitre, both for 50 games, following positive drug tests. Both tested positive in 2008, but under the current agreement will miss the first 50 games of the 2009 season.

Romero was a fixture in the bullpen for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in 2008, pitching eight times in the postseason – apparently with the knowledge of his failed test and imminent suspension. He was informed of his positive test on September 23, and was offered a reduced suspension (25 games) if he began serving it....

immediately. Not wanting to miss the postseason, Romero declined and will serve the full 50 in 2009. He claims to have used a tainted supplement, 6-OXO Extreme, which he purchased over the counter.

Mitre last pitched as a starter for the Marlins in 2007. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2008 and missed the entire season before being released by the Marlins at the end of the year. He signed a one-year minor league deal with the New York Yankees (with a 2010 option) and is expected to miss half of 2009 anyway, so the suspension shouldn’t affect his season. Mitre tested positive around the same time as Romero, and for the same supplement - go figure.

Losing Romero for 50 games will impact the Phillies bullpen, and they will look for a replacement reliever, though not necessarily a lefty. Scott Eyre pitched well at the end of 2008, so they could go forward with him and another smaller signing until Romero’s return. This brings the total number of drug-related MLB suspensions to 20, 12 of whom are pitchers.