A’s OF Laureano suspended 80 games for PED violation

OAKLAND — A’s outfielder Ramón Laureano received an 80-game suspension, effective immediately, without pay after testing positive for Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the league announced on Friday.

With 53 games remaining in the 2021 season, Laureano will miss the rest of the year and be ineligible to participate in the postseason. His suspension should continue into the 2022 season based on whatever number of games remain. Laureano released a statement through the MLB Player’s Association:

“I would never knowingly ingest any banned substance and put the game that I’ve loved all my life at risk. When I found out that I tested positive for Nandrolone, I was shocked. I take great care of my body and have an extremely regimented diet. Based on the minuscule amount that was briefly in my body, I’ve learned that it is likely that it was contamination of something I ingested.”

In the statement, Laureano said he’d been educated about PEDs through the RBI program and Baseball Factory growing up: “I know I don’t need any of that to perform on the baseball field. All my athletic success has come from my hard work, focus and dedication to the game.”

A’s general manager David Forst and manager Bob Melvin said Laureano was upset with the news of the suspension.

“Ramón was pretty emotional,” Forst said. “He was upset and feels like he let people down. We all know he wears his heart on his sleeve, most of what’s come from him has been emotion.”

The suspension hit Laureano’s teammates hard, but Melvin said the team has to play with a short memory.

“It’s a difficult day and it shocks everybody,” Melvin said. “Our guys in the clubhouse were shocked by it.

“He’s a tough one to lose. There’s an emotional level he brings, guys are going to have to step up, but this is something you have to do in this game.”

The suspension hit at a time when the A’s looked to be finally coalescing for what will be a tough push at a postseason spot. They enter Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers without Laureano looking at a 4.5-game gap between them and the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. They have a 1.5-game lead on the New York Yankees for the second wild-card spot and are 2.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for the first wild card spot with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners still very much in the mix.

August is rife with tough series against the Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Laureano was hot and cold this year, batting .246 with a .760 OPS in 88 games this year. Losing Laureano not only takes a huge bite out of the A’s outfield depth, but takes away a major source of energy, athleticism and star power.

The acquisition of outfielder Starling Marte and utility player Josh Harrison at the trade deadline provides some cover for the loss. Laureano ceded center field to the veteran Marte when he came to Oakland from the Miami Marlins, with Laureano moving to right field. Friday’s outfield alignment against the Texas Rangers could be a regular one for the A’s with Harrison slotted into left field with Mark Canha in right field. Depending on the matchup, Stephen Piscotty, Tony Kemp and Seth Brown — who was called up to replace Laureano on the active roster — could get reps in the outfield, too.

Harrison could move to the infield if the game plan dictates they use his arm at second, shortstop or third base.

“He can do whatever we need him to do,” Melvin said. “Whether it’s a lefty or ground ball day we need him in the infield, give a guy a day off, he’s the ultimate guy you can give guys days off and not lose significantly at any position. And we do have 15 straight games coming up in a row after these three games, so he’s going to be important to give guys rest in whatever position he’s in.”

Chad Pinder, out with a strained hamstring, could start a rehab assignment in the middle of the month, Melvin said. Pinder’s return gives the A’s another player like Harrison who provides more depth in the outfield and can play anywhere on the infield.

Offensively, the A’s trio of new additions salvages a bit the loss of Laureano. Though it will be tough to replace Laureano’s spark and play-making ability in the outfield, Marte can fill in as a source of energy and athleticism on the base paths and defensively.

“It’s nice to have Marte regardless,” Melvin said. “Ramón is pretty unique in what he brings, he’s been here for a while and he is who we are. Certainly Starling has become a big part of that as well, but separate in that his was a trade deadline move and losing Ramón is going to be hard for us. Other guys are going to have to step up.”

This isn’t the first time the A’s have dealt with a costly PED suspension to a key player. In June 2019 amid a season full of All-Star potential, pitcher Frankie Montas served an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Ostarine.

Before Montas, the only other A’s major leaguer to get suspended for PEDs was pitcher Bartolo Colon in 2012.

Manny Ramirez had to serve the last half of his 100 game suspension when he decided to come out of retirement with the A’s in 2012, and played 17 games at Triple-A Sacramento, but was released before playing in the majors with the A’s.