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NEW YORK - One day after filing for free agency,
Guillermo Mota found out that his market value will take a
serious hit. Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that the
righthander has been suspended for 50 games for violating the
league's drug prevention and treatment program. The suspension will take effect at the start of the 2007 season. Mota finished this past season with the New York Mets after
being released by the Cleveland Indians and became a valuable
member of their bullpen. He appeared in seven playoff games with
New York and went 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. In the regular season,
Mota went 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA for Cleveland and the Mets. The 33-year-old Mota filed for free agency on Tuesday. Mota becomes the third major leaguer to be suspended since the
penalty for first-time offenders was increased from 10 days to
50 games in 2006. Righthander Yusaku Iriki tested positive for a
performance-enhancing substance while he was on the Mets during
spring training and was the first major leaguer to get suspended
50 games. Last June, righthander Jason Grimsley was suspended 50 games
after admitting to taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs
during a steroid probe. The Arizona Diamondbacks released
Grimsley before the suspension was announced.
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