David Rollins Suspended For PEDs

David Rollins was supposed to make the team all along. The Seattle Mariners scooped him up in the rule five draft, and from the moment that selection was made it seemed like he was destined to pitch out of the M’s bullpen. Lloyd McClendon even liked him as a multi-inning guy, and all he did this spring was look excellent. Everything was going right, until it suddenly wasn’t going at all.

More from Seattle Mariners

• Seattle Mariners trade James Paxton. Deja vu or re-imagining?
• Seattle Mariners: November mailbag – Face of the franchise and more
• Seattle Mariners: Zunino part of 5 player swap. What it means for the M’s.
• Seattle Mariners: Mitch Haniger, and Edgar Martinez headed to Japan
• Seattle Mariners: Trading for Joc Pederson from L.A. – 3 scenarios

“My positive test was the result of a serious error in judgment. I know I have disappointed my many supporters; and my sincerest apologies go out to everyone associated with the game of baseball, especially the Seattle Mariners organization, my teammates and the fans. I am truly grateful for the opportunity the Mariners have given me and never again want to compromise this trust. From the bottom of my heart, I deeply regret this mistake and give you my word it will never happen again.”

That’s Rollins, via the Players Association, via MLBTR, expressing remorse for having taken PEDs. He’s saying this statement because he just got busted for PEDs. The suspension will be for 80 games, and will obviously call into question whether or not he ever appears in a Mariners uniform.

Being a rule 5 guy, the rules are kind of weird for Rollins. The M’s do get to keep him by placing him on the restricted list, but as far as I can tell they’ll have to put him on the active roster as soon as his suspension is up. Maybe he gets more “rehab” time in Tacoma, but it doesn’t seem like it. The Mariners had a decision to make on Rollins, and now they still do. Just gotta wait a few months first.

Of course, the decision on Rollins had already pretty much been made: he was going to make the team. Tyler Olson has been outstanding this spring, but the job was Rollins’ to lose and he’d been lights out all spring. Now he’s suddenly out of the picture, and Olson’s probably going to the big leagues.

This is a fine example of why depth is important. The top lefty option is suspended for a long period of time? Luckily the next guy up is just as good. The Mariners are lucky to have Olson, and when Rollins comes back they’ll have the good problem of having to find room (or not find room) for a talented pitcher. We applauded the M’s for stockpiling arms this winter, and hey, look, it’s already coming in handy.

As for Rollins’ decision to use PEDs, let’s just say I’ll never understand how these guys think they can get away with this. MLB drug tests players. If a player gets caught, they get suspended for a long time. Players really do get caught and suspended, and then instead of helping a big league team they just sit there for months at a time. Rollins decided to take some drugs to help him feel less sore after winter ball. Conscious choice with clear reprocussions. How tempting could it be? How hard is it to just say no, realizing your job depends on your decision to just say no?

It’s a bummer, just like it always is. David Rollins was one of my favorite minor pickups of the winter. He’s a good pitcher who was going to get every chance to stick in the MLB bullpen for the entirety of the season. We had every reason to believe he’d be good. He still might be, but his 2015 is now going to be much shorter, if he even has a 2015. Don’t do drugs, unless your employer says you can.