Francisco Cervelli has been suspended 50 games by MLB for his connection to the Biogenesis clinic under Baseball's Joint Drug Agreement. By not being named Alex Rodriguez, Cervelli has managed to fly largely under the radar during the entire investigation, though his name has been connected to the Miami clinic since the beginning. Cervelli has no real incentive to appeal since he can serve out his suspension while on the disabled list.
The 2013 season started off well for Cervelli, despite the fact that he'd been connected to Biogenesis documents leaked to the public. He managed to wrestle the starting catcher job away from Chris Stewart and hit as well as anyone could have expected until a foul tip against the Blue Jays broke his hand, which required surgery. Since then, Cervelli has been unable to make it back onto the field. He's experienced setbacks and recently made a trip to see Dr. James Andrews because of a sore throwing elbow. Cervelli's season was already in jeopardy and this is just the final step of that.
As with most players connected to Biogenesis, Cervelli hasn't tested positive for steroids. Players can be suspended through the JDA for "just cause" if the evidence connects them strongly enough to steroids, as it seems to have in this particular case. Rodriguez and Cervelli are not the only players connected to the Yankees to have been suspended, with former Yankee prospect Jesus Montero also being suspended for 50 games. Previously, Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera served suspensions after testing positive for PEDs. Neither player will be suspended again in this particular group, likely because MLB sees it as the same offense they tested positive before. Francisco Martinez, who is currently in the Yankees' system, will also be suspended 50 games.
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