5 MLB Teams That Wish Monday's PED Suspensions Never Happended
While everyone continues to focus on the players who were impacted by Monday's PED suspensions, let's take a look at which MLB teams were hit hardest by Bud Selig's iron fist. Baseball is incredibly unpredictable, but it's safe to say that many teams were still caught of guard when 12 different players got suspended for 50 games.
Thankfully, there are numerous minor-league players who are ready to take the spot left by cheaters. In fact, teams like the Texas Rangers have been planning on losing players for the last two months. The Rangers wanted to acquire a bat at the Trade Deadline to help replace Nelson Cruz, but the right deal never presented itself. Now, Texas is forced to fight an uphill battle against the Oakland Athletics, who are currently leading the AL West by two games.
However, Cruz won't be the Rangers' problem much longer as the 33-year-old outfielder is a free agent after the season and is unlikely to re-sign with the team that made him famous -- Texas traded for Cruz way back in 2006 and he's been in the Lone Star State ever since.
It's going to be interesting to see how teams like the Rangers respond to being put behind the eight ball by MLB commissioner Bud Selig and company. Here are five teams that wish the PED suspensions never surfaced.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
No. 5 Team Impacted: Philadelphia Philles
It may sound impossible at this point, but the Philadlephia Phillies actually got worse on Monday. Antonio Bastardo was nailed for 50 games and he was by far the Phillies' best bullpen arm with a team-leading 2.32 ERA in 2013. Philadelphia is already 17 games out of first place, but that number is only going to go up without Bastardo.
No. 4 Team Impacted: Seattle Mariners
Jesus Montero was once the top prospect in the New York Yankees' farm system. However, once he was traded to the Seattle Mariners everyone seemed to forget about him. Well, the 23-year-old backstop is now out of the Mariners' lineup for 50 games and his once-promising career seems to have hit rock bottom. So much for Seattle building around this guy...
No. 3 Team Impacted: Texas Rangers
Unlike the other four teams on this list, the Rangers are actually in serious playoff contention as they sit just two games behind the Athletics in the competitive AL West. Cruz is currently fourth in MLB with 27 home runs, yet he won't be able to suite up for the Rangers at all this season. Not to mention, Texas doesn't really have a replacement for Cruz and the Rangers' lineup has been scuffling to say the least.
No. 2 Team Impacted: San Diego Padres
I was incredibly disappointed when I saw Everth Cabrera's name rumored to PED suspensions last month. The San Diego Padres' shortstop is incredibly gifted and has already swiped 37 bases in 2013 alone! San Diego will miss his production as Cabrera was the team's lone position player in the 2013 All-Star Game. Fortunately, Cabrera is only 26 years old and has his entire career in front of him, but the Padres will only suffer from now until the minute No. 2 returns.
No. 1 Team Impacted: New York Yankees
Alex Rodriguez wasn't the only New York Yankees' player to get slammed with a suspension on Monday. In addition to A-Roids' infamous 211-game ban, Francisco Cervelli of the Yanks also got hit with the standard 50-game suspension. Cervelli and Rodriguez both play different roles, but losing them for an extended period of time only puts the Bronx Bombers further behind the eight ball.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
