The New York Times’ Ben Shpigel on the latest New York Met to flunk a PED test.
When the Mets sent reliever Lino Urdaneta to Class AAA New Orleans on Tuesday, they had been told that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. General Manager Omar Minaya said that he was notified last Friday, but Major League Baseball delayed the announcement until Wednesday because of the minor league appeals process.
The Mets waited to demote Urdaneta until Tuesday. That was the first day that they could recall reliever Ambiorix Burgos from New Orleans. Unless someone goes on the disabled list, a player must wait 10 days before being eligible to be recalled.
œThe plan was always to send him back when we did, Minaya said of Urdaneta.
Urdaneta tested positive while playing for New Orleans, and he was suspended for 50 games. He pitched in two games for the Mets, allowing two hits and one run, and was eligible to pitch during the appeals process but did not. Minaya said that the knowledge of Urdaneta™s suspension did not affect Manager Willie Randolph™s decision not to use him.
œWe were not bound by anything, Minaya said. œUrdaneta could have pitched, but Willie did not ask him to.
Shpigel points out Urdaneta is the 10th member of Mets organization to test positive for something-or-other. Only the Mariners have had more players suspended under MLB’s current drug policy. Unless and until Urdaneta or another Mets minor leaguer records a profane hip hop single, however, troubles on the farm are unlikely to generate major headlines.