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Jordany Valdespin can’t outrun MLB’s Biogenesis probe and gets 50-game ban.
Jordany Valdespin confounded the Mets. His talent was tempting, his immaturity and lack of professionalism were always worrisome. Monday, the Mets took yet another public blackeye when the controversial utility player was suspended by baseball in the Biogensis investigation.
Valdespin, who was demoted to Triple-A on July 13, was one of 12 players who accepted a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball for violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in relation to the Biogenesis investigation. Mets Double-A outfielder Cesar Puello also accepted the 50-game suspension.
The Mets issued a brief statement regarding Valdespin and Puello:
“We have and continue to support Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Testing program.”
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Valdespin and Puello released almost identical statements. Valdespins’ read:
“I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain errors in judgment during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those errors. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets’ organization, Mets’ fans and my family, and look forward to contributing to the Mets in 2014.”
Sandy Alderson was not available for comment. A team source, however, said that the Mets were blind-sided by Valdespin’s involvement and were not aware of it until late in the investigation.
Within the clubhouse, there was also surprise, but not shock and very little sympathy.
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“No one knew, but no one I talked to is really surprised,” one Mets player who spoke on the condition on anonymity said. “No one talked to him much. He was always just by himself.
Howard Simmons/New York Daily News
Jordany Valdespin’s rocky season just took another turn for the worse on Monday afternoon.
“I guess I am surprised, because it didn’t work for him,” the player added.
Another player laughed when asked about Valdespin and said that he’d been given his last chance in the Mets clubhouse.
Valdespin was hitting just .188 and had caused two controversies at the time he was demoted.
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He showed up reliever Jose Contreras on a meaningless home run when the Pirates were pounding the Mets back in May. He angered his teammates for making them have to defend his behavior on the field and when he tried to refuse to pinch hit in the next game, knowing he was likely to be plunked. He relented, was plunked and then refused to come out and talk to the media about the incident, leaving his teammates to answer for him.
When he was told he was demoted, in the visiting clubhouse in Pittsburgh, Valdespin threw a fit in the clubhouse. He got into a confrontation with several teammates that almost turned physical.
Valdespin was playing well at Triple-A, hitting .416 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 16 games. He played Sunday night, coming off a three-game suspension for his part in causing a benches-clearing brawl.
Puello is one of the Mets top position prospects. He was hitting .328 with 16 homers and 73 RBI in 90 games with the Double-A Binghamton. Puello, whose name was linked to the Biogenesis clinic in spring training, had not appeared in a game since Thursday. The Mets said he was not injured.
Puello declined to discuss his involvement in the investigation in spring training. Monday, he released this statement:
“Today, I was notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. Out of respect for the Mets’ organization, my teammates, and my family, I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain mistakes during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those mistakes. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets’ organization, Mets’ fans and my family, and ultimately helping the club win a championship.”
Both Valdespin and Puello are represented by Seth and Sam Levinson’s Brooklyn-based ACES agency. The agents put out a statement saying they had no knowledge
