Major League Baseball Suspends Tim Beckham

Tuesday morning major league baseball announced they had suspended Mariner infielder/outfielder Tim Beckham 80 games testing positive for the drug Stanozolol under the performance-enhanced substance. It was a violation under the major league baseball Joint Drug and Treatment program.

The Mariners have 48 games remaining this season so this means he would miss the first 32 games of next season as well. Tim Beckham had signed a one-year contract before the season with the Mariners. He will still be under control by the Mariners for next season so he won’t be a free agent eligible until the following season.

The Mariners had signed Tim Beckham as the starting shortstop until JP Crawford was ready to take the position which he did so in May. Since Crawford became the everyday shortstop Beckham has been playing around both the infield and outfield.

Most recently Beckham was playing leftfield because of the injury to Domingo Santana to his shoulder. Mallex Smith has played right field recently when the Mariners acquired Keon Broxton off of waivers from the Baltimore Orioles to play center field.

Currently, Santana has been the designated hitter because of his shoulder. When he is able to return to the field Mallex Smith will probably move to left field where had played for a few days before Mitch Haniger was hurt.

There was a thought the Mariners would activate Dee Gordon off the 10-day injured list but instead, Tim Lopes was added on coming off the 7-day concussion list. 

 The Mariners have several players who could start in left field right now. Austin Nola could play there at some point, however, he will probably start at second base.  Dylan Moore and Ryan Court may start Tuesday in left field. All three are right-handed hitters so the Mariners may go with the hottest hand. Nola and Court are probably the choices to play some first base to when Dan Vogelbach is at DH or inserted late for defensive purposes. Either one can be in the lineup when facing a left-handed starting pitcher too.  Vogelbach has been struggling at the plate since the all-star break.

In July Vogelbach batted .197 with five home runs. In Houston starting off August Vogelbach has only one hit in 11 at-bats. The one hit was a home run. His batting is now at .229.

The Mariners are expected to start an opener Tuesday night followed by Wade LeBlanc. Depending on the opener performance LeBlanc will enter the game in either the 2^nd or 3^rd inning likely. Starting the 3^rd inning will mean LeBlanc will come in to face the bottom of the San Diego Padres lineup.

 The Mariners activated reliever Brandon Brennan off the injured list. He recently went on a rehab assignment.  Most of the season Brennan was pitching well until the week before he went on the injured list.  He had been on the injured list since June 14 with a right shoulder restraint.

In a surprise move in some regard, the Mariners put reliever Dave McKay on waivers; he was picked up by the Detroit. He hasn't had a great year either in Tacoma or the seven games he pitched for the Mariners, however, at the age of 24, you would think the Mariners would give him more time.

The Mariners 40-man roster is at 36 players. So room to add some more players by September. I expect more moves will be made. With Brennan activated the Mariners sent Gerson Bautista back to Tacoma.