Minnesota Twins new ace Ervin Santana won’t be stepping onto the mound anytime soon after he tested positive for the performance enhancing drug stanozolol.
Santana who claims to be a “no shortcuts” kind of guy had this to say about the suspension.
“I preach hard work, and don’t believe in short cuts. I am very disappointed that I tested positive for a performance enhancing drug. I am frustrated that I can’t pinpoint how the substance in question entered my body. I would never knowingly take anything illegal to enhance my performance.”
Santana, who is coming off a 14-10 campaign with the Atlanta Braves, leveraged his one year contract with the Braves into a four year 55 million?dollar deal with the Minnesota Twins this past off-season. The deal was the biggest in Twins history.?Unfortunately for Santana, the suspension will cost him 5.9 million of his 13.5 million dollar salary this year.
Santana currently holds a career record of 119-100. Even though?Santana’s career record is?barely above .500 and his best campaign was back in?2008 with a 16-7 record and 3.49 era,?there is something unique about Santana; he eats up innings. In five of his last ten big league seasons Santana has surpassed the 200 innings threshold and?making 296 starts, which is eighth best in that span.
The?bad news is he won’t be seeing?those innings or starts anytime soon, which is something the Twins desperately needed.
Since 2010 the Twins have only found their way into the playoffs once. While this season certainly didn’t look like it would turn out any differently, Ervin Santana and Phil Hughes would have made a nice 1-2 punch for the Twins rotation.
Fear not Minnesota Twins fans, even though your pitching staff might be a bit more sub-par, the bats should pick up some of the slack with Brian Dozier coming off a 23 home run and 71 RBI campaign?and Trevor Plouffe had a nice year.?There is also some?young talent in the two?23 year olds, Oswaldo Arcia and Danny Santana, which should add a?little pop.
Maybe you’ll win 75 games this year instead of 70.
