Every player in baseball has had his season cut short and it’s still unclear how many games, if any, will be played in 2020. Regardless of when that date arrives, the Indians will be without reliever Emmanuel Clase, who has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball.
Clase tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, and is in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Clase’s suspension won’t begin until the 2020 regular reason starts. It’s unclear if or how much of the suspension will carry over into 2021 if fewer than 80 games are played in 2020.
“We were disappointed to learn of today’s suspension of Emmanuel Clase for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Indians said in an organizational statement. “We fully support Major League Baseball’s policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs from our game. We have been in contact with Emmanuel, and we will welcome him back after the discipline has been served. Per the protocol outlined by Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, we will not comment further on the circumstances surrounding this announcement.”
Even if MLB is successful in playing somewhere around 80 to 100 games, the Indians will largely be without Clase.
Clase was the centerpiece of the deal that sent two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers in the offseason.
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