Former New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia, once given a "lifetime ban" after thrice violating MLB's PED rules in 2016, signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox yesterday and it has raised eyebrows.
Although Mejia was given a lifetime ban the Joint Drug Program administered by MLB and the MLB Players' Association allowed him to appeal the ban and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated Mejia last July. Despite the ban, Mejia was still under contract to the Mets who released him last November.
Several players expressed dismay at the Red Sox decision to sign Mejia. Free agent reliever Peter Moylan tweeted, "Hows my offseason going? This guy had a lifetime ban and still signed before me!!!" Both Justin Verlander and Josh Reddick of the Houston Astros also conveyed their disapproval on Twitter. (Of course, the Astros acquired reliever Roberto Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays while he was under suspension for domestic assault). Despite these interventions I wonder if there will be any appetite within the MLBPA to amend the Joint Drug Program.
It's debatable whether PEDs actually enhance a player's performance or give a competitive advantage. Nevertheless, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to a disciplinary regime which purportedly included a lifetime ban after three strikes. But Mejia's reinstatement and signing tells the public that the term "lifetime ban" has no meaning and that there are truly no consequences for being caught for PED use.
I'm sure Red Sox fans aren't enthusiastic about Mejia's signing and would just as soon forget him should he be cut during spring training. But one is only as good as one's ERA. If the Red Sox don't sign Craig Kimbrel and Mejia makes the squad and somehow returns to his 2014 form when he saved 28 games for the Mets then Red Sox fans will "forgive" him his trespasses.
It's hard not to be cynical all the way around.
No comments:
Post a Comment