Mets’ Meija receives 162-game suspension
Major League Baseball suspended New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia for 162 games on Tuesday after a second failed drug test this season.
Mejia returned July 12 from an 80-game suspension that began in April for using a performance-enhancing drug. The latest suspension involved a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone, which are both considered PEDs.
The ban is the longest for performance-enhancing substances in MLB history, matching Alex Rodriguez’s 162-game suspension last season.
The 25-year-old Mejia had pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings of relief this season in a setup role, allowing four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
Last year, Meija posted 28 saves and had a 3.65 ERA for the Mets.
Baseball Hall of Fame changes voting eligibility
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors made a change in its voting eligibility on Tuesday.
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame vote, Baseball Writers Association of America members must be covering the game for at least 10 years or be no more than 10 years removed from active involvement.
“BBWAA members previously holding Hall of Fame voting privileges who are no longer active in the game and are more than 10 years removed from active status will have the opportunity for annual reinstatement, based on their coverage of the game in the preceding year,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement.
There are about 650 BBWAA members eligible to vote as 10-year BBWAA members. A voter registration system and survey will determine eligibility going forward.
Steelers RB Bell has ban reduced one game
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell had his three-game suspension reduced to two games following a settlement agreement between the NFL Players Union and NFL.
The two sides were negotiating as the Steelers opened training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on Sunday. An official agreement confirming the reduced suspension was not available from the NFL on Tuesday afternoon in the minutes after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s punishment was upheld.
“As I have stated before, we were disappointed in Le’Veon Bell’s actions last August,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said. “Le’Veon made a mistake and now he must learn from his mistake and focus on eliminating distractions from his life. We look forward to continuing to work with Le’Veon to try to help him reach his full potential as a person and as a player.”
The Patriots host the Steelers in the NFL Kickoff game with both Pro Bowl talents on the sideline.
Penguins deal Sutter to Canucks, sign Fehr
The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Brandon Sutter and a third-round draft pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Nick Bonino, defenseman Adam Clendening and a second-round pick in 2016.
The Penguins also announced a three-year agreement with forward Eric Fehr that will average $2 million annually, to fill the void left by Sutter’s departure.
The Canucks will receive the earlier of the Penguins’ two third-round picks next year, which was a compensatory pick awarded from the Buffalo Sabres for hiring Dan Bylsma as head coach earlier this summer.
Sutter, 26, scored 21 goals to go with 12 assists in 80 games for Pittsburgh last season, and has 98 goals and 87 assists in 495 career NHL games.
Fehr, 29, recorded 19 goals, 33 points and a plus-8 rating for the Washington Capitals last season.
Bonino, 27, is signed through the 2016-17 season with an annual salary averaging $1.9 million. The five-year veteran scored 39 points with 15 goals and 24 assists in 75 games for the Canucks last season.
Clendening, 22, had two assists and eight penalty minutes in 17 games for Vancouver last season.