NEW YORK — Carlos Martinez, a one-time All-Star pitcher, was suspended 80 games Friday under the minor league drug abuse program.
The Dominican tested positive for the use of Ibutamoren, a substance that would improve sports performance by increasing human growth hormone.
Martinez, 30, signed a minor league contract with San Francisco on March 19. He was released and signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on May 7.
The “Tsunami” made a pair of starts at Triple-A Worcester, at Toledo on May 8 and once morest Rochester on May 14, going 0-2 with an ERA of 20.77 over 4 innings and a third. He was discharged on May 17.
Martinez played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013-2021, going 62-52 with a 3.74 ERA in 139 starts and 135 relief appearances. He was an All-Star in 2015 and 2017, and made five relief appearances in a 2013 World Series loss to the Red Sox.
He went 4-9 with a 6.23 ERA in 16 starts with the Cardinals last season.
With Martinez, there are 23 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program. His punishment will begin when he signs with a major league organization.
Six players have been suspended this year under the major league drug program.
Milwaukee pitcher JC Mejía and Brewers catcher Pedro Severino were banned for 80 games each. Baltimore pitcher Matt Harvey has been suspended 60 games.
There were also 80-game suspensions for free-agent outfielder Danny Santana and Richard Rodriguez, as well as Venezuelan infielder Jose Rondon.
