Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a synthetic anabolic steroid, MLB announced Friday.
The Twins signed Santana in December to a four-year, $55 million deal, but will be without the right-hander until late June. Santana released a statement Friday afternoon, denying he knowingly took performance enhancing drugs.
Ervin Santana releases a statement on his 80-game suspension pic.twitter.com/G9AiOoGTHK
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Last season with the Braves, Santana went 14-10 in with a 3.95 ERA in 196 innings. It was his first winning season since going 17-10 with the Angels in 2010.
Santana, 32, has proven capable of staying healthy, making no fewer than 23 starts in a season since breaking into the majors in 2005. He’s pitched more than 200 innings in a season five times.
Santana is the third MLB player this spring to be suspended for Stanozolol, joining Braves pitcher Arodys Vizcaino and Mariners reliever David Rollins.