Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Major League Baseball suspended New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano for the entire 2021 season Wednesday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

The 162-game suspension without pay means Cano will forfeit his entire $24 million salary.



It’s the second major suspension for the 38-year-old Cano, who was banned 80 games during the 2018 season with the Seattle Mariners after violating the league’s PED policy.

“We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson’s suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “The violation is very unfortunate for him, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB’s efforts toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the game.”

The MLB commissioner’s office said Cano tested positive for the PED Stanozolol.

A second suspension would likely cripple Cano’s shot at making the Hall of Fame despite his credentials as an eight-time All-Star and .303 lifetime hitter with 334 home runs, 2,624 hits and 1,302 RBIs in 2,234 games with the New York Yankees (2005-13), Mariners (2014-18) and Mets.

Cano has also won five Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves and was the MVP of the 2017 All-Star Game. He won a World Series ring with the Yankees in 2009.



In 2020, the Dominican Republic native batted .316 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 49 games with the Mets, who finished in fourth place in the National League East with a 26-34 record.

Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners in 2013 that runs through the 2023 season.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)