Blue Jays first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello has received an 80-game PED suspension, per a league announcement, which is the penalty for a first-time offender. He tested positive for the banned substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. The 32-year-old’s roster spot will go to southpaw Chad Girodo, as Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca tweets.
In a statement, via the Toronto Star’s Brendan Kennedy (Twitter link), Colabello says that he was informed of his positive test on March 13th. It would appear, then, that he’s only just lost his appeal. Colabello suggests that he is not at fault for the test, saying that he “would never compromise the integrity of the game of baseball” and has “spent every waking moment since that day trying to find an answer as to why or how” he ended up with the banned substance.
Even before today’s news, things hadn’t gone as hoped for the late-blooming slugger, as Colabello has logged just two hits and two walks in 32 plate appearances. Both he and the club were no doubt hoping for quite a bit more, given that he ran up a .321/.367/.520 batting line with 15 home runs in 360 trips to the plate in 2015.
While his K:BB ratios remain constant, Colabello has clearly suffered from more than just a turnaround in luck. His .411 BABIP from a year ago now stands at a meager .100, but he’s also making tons of soft contact (40.0%) and putting the ball on the ground much more often (60.0% after a 47.9% mark last year).
As those round numbers suggest, it’s still early, but it would have been hard for any organization to wait much longer on a player who is so limited defensively and doesn’t have an extensive history of production. Colabello racked up extremely negative defensive ratings, especially in the corner outfield, in his extensive action last year. And the indy ball find had never previously posted a major league season with an above-average batting line.
Needless to say, the suspension spares Toronto from making any tough calls on Colabello at the moment. But it also changes the calculus for the organization quite a bit moving forward. Colabello won’t be eligible to return until just before the trade deadline, and under the league rules will not be eligible for the postseason.
Jays GM Ross Atkins expressed support for Colabello in a statement on the team’s behalf, despite what he called an “unfortunate situation.” Atkins says that the organization is “confident he’ll return ready to compete and will have taken the steps necessary to ensure that this does not happen again.”
With the right-handed hitter out of the picture for at least eighty games, the Jays will presumably rely more heavily on Justin Smoak — a switch-hitter who is deployed mostly against righties, and could ultimately be paired with another option to face opposing southpaws. Jesus Montero presents an internal possibility, and veteran power hitter Michael Morse just entered the free agent market. Of course, the organization could instead look to fill out its roster with a different kind of player entirely. For now, of course, they are going with an eighth reliever, but outfielders such as Dalton Pompey, Darrell Ceciliani, and the just-signed Michael Bourn could add a different element if the team were to use Edwin Encarnacion more often at first and/or give Jose Bautista more time in the DH role.
Colabello had only just cracked two years of MLB service after entering the year with 1.157 years on his ledger. The Joint Drug Agreement provides that suspended players “shall receive Major League Service while suspended during any period he would have received such service but for his placement on the Restricted List as a result of violating the Program.” Colabello will, therefore, remain on track to reach Super Two status next winter if he returns to Toronto’s active roster after his ban is complete.
What ……..
Not surprising. He went from a career .214/.284/.364 hitter with a combined 13 home runs over his first 114 games (365 PAs) to a .321/.367/.520 hitter with 15 homers over his next 101 (362 PA’s) while being 31 years old. That’s a shame for Blue Jays fans.
Oh shut the hell up, he pass 4 drug tests last year
Disappointing end to his indie-ball-to-the-majors story. So long, Colabello.
So he hit 2 more hrs and had a better line in 300 pas after changing his swing mechanics and moving to a hitter friendly toronto. He doesn’t strike me as the obvious steroid user type simply by looking at his stats
Did you look beyond the HR total? He went from a .364 slugger to a .520 slugger. Huge difference. That said, I don’t want to claim that’s all (or even partly) from the PEDs.
Regardless, CC hasn’t looked good at all this year. Not only has his ridiculous BABIP from last year become ugly, he’s swinging through a lot of hittable pitches. I think his time was running out rapidly even before this suspension. Too many guys on that roster who can play 1B/DH to justify CC’s terrible performance.
That’s a pretty poor basis for steroid usage seeing as he was on the same roster as Joey Bats and his independent league stats were comparable to last season’s success. With the help of iconic sluggers his success could be just as indicative of hard work.
That said, this is a shame and it’s too bad to see a feel good story tarnished like this. Especially when Toronto’s offense is struggling.
“With the help of iconic sluggers his success could be just as indicative of hard work.”
Or maybe it was just the drugs.
Yes, I did. Which is why i mentioned that it was also a sss and that he had changed his hitting mechanics and moved to a hitters park.
Don’t forget the human element. He learned of his suspension on March 13th. I imagine it’s not too easy to remove that from your mindset while trying to play games day after day.
He should sue the steroid provider for non-performance.
lmfao
While it could have something to do with the supplements (that’s the reason they are banned, after all), it’s not that unusual for any aged player to take some time to get accustomed to the next level league. JD Martinez is one such example. Jake Arrietta, another. It is unknown how often, or how much of the banned substance was used, or even when. How much time passes between the test and the results becoming public is something I am unaware of.
JD Martinez and Jake Arrieta aren’t the best comparables. Martinez was 26 when he put it all together and Arrieta was 28. It’s far more common for a players under 30 to figure something out than it is for players over 30 who have already struggled greatly in their MLB action.
The best comparables would have to have played in independent leagues before making the majors, but I cant think of any off hand. Maybe Cecil Fielder and his return from Japan? Collabello’s timetable was delayed by his lack of defensive skills in the minors. Still, 360 AB’s is not enough struggling to refer to it as “greatly”.
It may not matter much in the end, but Colabello could be arbitration-eligible following this season. Players suspended for PEDs are not paid, but do earn Major League service time while suspended. This means that Colabello could have 2.157 (very likely Super Two) if he comes back from the suspension and stays in the Majors the rest of the season.
Hmmm maybe I was confusing the domestic violence rules. Going to go look at the rules, but let me know if you have a specific citation for this.
Okay, I found it in the JDA. He will continue accumulating service, though he’ll have to stick in the majors for a while after he’s reinstated to get to Super Two status.
Congrats Colabello, you’ve joined a the club of inspirational stories that are now ruined.
Of all the positive tests, I think this is the one that I’m the angriest about. I used to root for the guy when he was in the indie leagues with my hometown team, the Worcester Tornadoes. I was happy for the guy when he finally got his big league chance. Now…
probably more concerned about earning money since hes 32 and has less than 2 seasons of service time. Career Minor leaguers don’t make that much compared to even a few years in the bigs.
Say hello to Toronto Michael Morse!
Yeah, this would seem obvious if MM is interested.
Honestly, I think Michael Morse should be jumping at any major league offer.
I’d like to see Morse land there and do well. He didn’t get much of a shot in Pittsburgh but performed well as a pinch hitter and got good reviews about his attitude despite his struggles and lack of playing time. Bucs would have liked to have kept him, just didn’t have the roster space right now.
The post says “southpaw-swinging Justin Smoak,” but Smoak is a switch-hitter (albeit stronger from the left side).
Thanks, fixed.
*sarcasm alert*
So glad to see that Colabello is stepping up and accepting responsibility for his transgressions. If it isn’t his fault, whose fault is it? And remember, an 80 gamer means that this wasn’t the first time this has happened.
Well, if someone has a grudge it wouldn’t be hard to slip it into a drink. Also, labs make mistakes, as a former lab director I can tell you many stories, and they do a pretty good job of covering stuff up. Not saying that happened here of course, but MLB/JDA does not even entertain such a possibility so a player can’t use it as a defense .
So if this isn’t his first why is it not mentioned in any story? My understanding is the consequences go 80-162-life. Do you know something different.
Yes that’s correct. it was his first bc first offense is 80 games.
Would like to believe Colabello’s statement, but I had to eat crow after defending Ryan Braun – just cannot defend these guys anymore. Shame.
His performance could well have been impacted by the stress of challenging a positive test.
This drug has a detection time of 6 weeks and is made only on the black market. It seems likely he used it in the offseason and for whatever reason it stayed in his system long enough to test positive when he came to ST.
I suspect many players use steroids during the offseason when they are less likely to be tested.
Its certainly not the greatest drug to be using in a test environment but players making the minimum probably don’t have the budget for the better stuff, and I think some agents are better than others in helping players avoid positive tests
Very good points, great info.
Better not ever hear the sky dome chant aroid again
Well their careers are parallel for sure…
You will, and if you can get a collective anti-Colabello chant going in Yankee Stadium, I’ll welcome it.
If a Colorado Rockie was to test positive for marijuana, like Jon Singleton did, would they be suspended?
The banned drug list is a fixed list of substances. It’s not conditional based on location.
It would be kind of silly if it was, since the team doesn’t play all of their games within one location.
Rule only applies to minor leaguers. Regardless, it’s fair to note that any adult can legally partake in CO — including visiting athletes.
It is on the banned substance list. It’s just that they don’t test for it, and it would take a lot for someone to get suspended for it. Basically as long as they aren’t on the cover of High Times smoking pot while in a major league uniform…they’ll just end up fined at the most.
To get suspended for marijuana the player essentially almost has to be trying to get in that situation.
Right, and there are also very different protocols for punishment.
I would like to see Jesus Montero get a shot. He has crushed triple AAA for the past three years and is off to a good start in Buffalo. Unfortunately he is mostly a DH. Pompey as a fifth outfielder does not make a lot of sense.
That’s what Mariner fans were saying until he got called back up last July. And you probably know how well that worked.
This is a blessing in disguise for the Jays..
Cola was struggling. (early I know) Smoak has been drawing more walks than usual this year and hitting the ball hard as of late. He hasnt had much extended playing time with this team and may finally breakout with this opportunity.
Colabello will be given a second chance later on. With Goins and Tulo stuggling, and as a team are 1 game above 500.. can’t wait for full time Smoak.
This again is another stupid move by MLB, .Ryan Braun was victimized because he used a substance he had used for years and today is even using. I find the MLB just has a poor business sense and is corrupt. Just look at MLB TV-the same fools who sell tv subscriptions but black out the home team and think fans are not going to get the games anyway.
I never understood why the Jays chose to ship out Danny Valencia and keep Collabello. Collabello can’t really play a position other than first base where the Blue Jays had Encarnacion and Smoak who both play it better. Valencia could play all over, a better baserunner, seemed to be coming into his own with the bat in the opportunities he was given.
Oh well. Offense isn’t something the Jays really need to worry about other than learning how to score without hitting home runs.
Excellent question(s), Roadrunner…. that was last year, and that is one of the questions that still burn me also; there are similar ones about this year’s team?
Being from Worcester, I know Chris fairly well and this is so out of character for him that I find it hard to believe. He DEFINITELY took something, but I’d be very surprised if he knowingly took steroids. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. I truly hope that this doesn’t end his career and he gets back on the field as soon as his suspension is up
I bet Jessica Mendoza feels duped for having done that puff piece on Colabello’s swing for Baseball Tonight a couple of days after he found out he tested positive. “Your swing feels so weird and looks so funky but you’re crushing the ball so it’s just so sweet!”
Did anybody else see this thing? I can’t find a single reference to it on the internet which is sort of weird.