Phillies’ Reliever Suspended for 80 Games for PED Use
Nine games into the season and the Phillies have already had a player test positive for steroids.
It’s not someone you know very well: Daniel Stumpf, a reliever the Phillies acquired with a Rule 5 draft pick this offseason, tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid. He was suspended for 80 games without pay. The Good Phight notes it’s the same steroid used by the East German olympic team.
The East Germans, under State Plan 14.25, fed its athletes performance-enhancing drugs for decades in order to improve their performance at the Olympics and other international competitions. Presumably, Stumpf didn’t go to Germany go get this stuff.
One interesting wrinkle to the story: Stumpf was a Rule 5 draft pick, taken by the Phillies from the Kansas City Royals. He must remain on the Phillies’ major league roster all season or be offered back to the Royals. The Inquirer’s Matt Gelb explains the ramifications:
His suspension does not affect his Rule 5 status. Stumpf must spend the entire season on the Phillies’ 25-man roster, which includes the disabled and restricted lists. But, in addition, he must accrue 90 active days on the roster. His suspension will end July 10, assuming the Phillies have no postponed games before that.
It’s now actually easier for the Phillies to keep Stumpf. He’s already been on the active roster for half of April; he’ll be able to accrue the other 90 days after coming off suspension in July. Plus he gets the benefits of having taken steroids!
The Phillies released a statement on the suspension: “The Phillies support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Daniel’s violation.” Elvis Araujo was recalled from AAA Lehigh Valley to replace Stumpf on the active roster.
“As it stands right now, the risk/reward of performance enhancing drugs for a potential Rule 5 pick is often dramatically slanted toward taking PEDs,” writes Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper.
The Phils are 4-5. They can even their record at .500 and win their second straight series today when they face the Padres at 1 p.m. today.
Follow @dhm on Twitter.