NEW YORK (AP) -Toronto minor league pitcher Matt Roney was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse.
Roney, a 27-year-old right-hander, is 2-0 with an 0.90 ERA in five relief appearances at Triple-A Syracuse. He signed with Toronto last November and was sent outright to the minors on March 22. He was penalized under baseball’s minor league drug-testing program, and his suspension began Saturday, the commissioner’s office said Monday.
He has a 1-10 record in the major leagues, going 1-9 in 11 starts and 34 relief appearances for Detroit in 2003 and 0-1 in three relief appearances for Oakland last year.
Roney’s contract calls for him to receive $15,000 per month while in the minors and $430,000 per season while in the majors, meaning he will lose about $30,000.
Drugs of abuse subject to suspensions for positive tests include cocaine, LSD, opiates, Ecstasy, GHB and PCP.
In addition, Detroit right-hander Sendy Vazquez was penalized for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance under the minor league program and was suspended for 50 games, starting last Friday.
In four starts at Class A Lakeland, he was 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA.
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