According to Reports, Ervin Santana Suspended 80 Games
By Brennen Rupp
Credit Terry Ryan and the Minnesota Twins for trying to improve their starting pitching this offseason. They went out and signed Ervin Santana to a four-year deal worth $55 million. A move that has now blown up in their face.
According to reports, Santana has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Stanozolol (say that 10 times). The news comes a day after Santana started his final spring training game. A game in which he pitched five scoreless innings.
Santana was scheduled to be the Twins number two starter this season. Luckily for the Twins they don’t have to scramble to find another starting pitcher days before the season starts.
Mike Pelfrey, the veteran lefty will take Santana’s spot in the rotation. Pelfrey had an impressive spring posting a 1.32 ERA.
Why not Alex Meyer or Trevor May? Meyer and May will have their time in the sun. The Twins more than likely won’t be contending in 2015. Let Meyer and May gain more experience in the minors. At some point this season both Meyer and May will find themselves in the Twins rotation. If Pelfrey struggles, one of them will be taking his spot in the rotation sooner rather than later.
Replacing Pelfrey in the bullpen is, Aaron Thompson The lefty reliever had an expectational spring. Thompson posted a 2.16 ERA while making seven appearances.
Losing Santana is a devastating blow to the Twins rotation. Lucky for them they have no shortage of options. The Twins weren’t winning the AL Central even with Santana. Now without him, we may get to see Meyer sooner than expected. Of course it hurts a little more when the guy who got suspended was given the richest free agent contract in Twins history.