Today, Kansas City Royals infielder Miguel Tejada was suspended under Major League Baseball's Performance Enhancing Drug policies thanks to two positive tests for the stimulant Adderall. Tejada faces a 105 game suspension, the third-longest suspension in MLB History behind Steve Howe's 119-game suspension in 1992 and Alex Rodriguez's recent 211-game suspension, which he is currently appealing.
The 39-year-old was hitting .288 with 3 homers and 20 RBIs to go along with a .695 OPS, bringing respectable productivity to the second base position for the Royals before landing on the 60-day DL on August 11. While this is his first suspension under the policy, Tejada had tested positive in the past, and the two tests occurred recently enough that they were considered the basis for the suspension.
The first suspension for such an offense is 25 games while the second carries an 80 game penalty, which adds up to the 105 game ban Tejada is facing. The six-time All-Star is planning on retiring at the end of this season instead of facing the remaining 64 game penalty that would start at the beginning of the 2014 season.
If this is indeed the end for Tejada, he becomes yet another name on a long list that has seen his great accomplishments on the field become tarnished thanks to the use of PEDs. Tejada won the American League MVP in 2003, and for his career has a slash line of .285/.336/.456 with 307 home runs.
Going forward for the Royals, Chris Getz looks to get the majority of time at the keystone with recently acquired utilityman Emilio Bonifacio seeing time there, as well.
