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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 7 March 2019

In this Friday, June 22, 2018 file photo, Boston Red Sox starting
pitcher Steven Wright delivers to the Seattle Mariners during the
first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston.
Associated Press
Red Sox pitcher

Wright suspended
In this Aug. 16, 2018, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Clay Buchholz works
against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Diego. 80 games for HGH
Associated Press
Buchholz joins Blue Jays after FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven

Wright will sit out the first 80 games of the season after
another uncertain offseason testing positive for Human Growth Hormone, a second
suspension for the knuckleballer who missed 15 games
last year for violating baseball’s domestic violence policy.
By NOAH TRISTER But even that 2013 season memory in this division, with Wright, 34, said in a statement issued through the Major
AP Baseball Writer included injury problems, the good or the bad, be- League Baseball Players Association that he learned of
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Clay and only four times has Bu- cause there’s always to- the positive test during the offseason.
Buchholz had reason to chholz made more than 18 morrow, and each game “Although I do not dispute the validity of the test, I was
wonder if his major league starts in a season. The Red that you play in division shocked as I have never intentionally ingested anything
career was coming to an Sox traded him to Philadel- in the AL East, it’s a tough for performance-enhancing purposes,” the statement
end. For a second straight phia after an unimpressive game,” he said. “You have said. “I have fully cooperated with MLB and will continue
offseason, he entered 2016, and he made only to know how to take the to try and identify the source of the result.”
spring training without a two starts for the Phillies be- good with the bad, and The commissioner’s office said Wright tested positive for
job. fore an arm injury that re- go about your business the Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2 (GHRP-2). He is the
“It was almost like last year,” quired surgery. next day.” second player under the big league program to test posi-
Buchholz said Wednesday. He reached a minor league Buchholz said he’s been tive for HGH, which has been screened for by baseball in
“Where you didn’t know if deal last March with the throwing, and he’s hoping blood tests since 2013.
that was it, and you weren’t Kansas City Royals. Then he to get up to speed soon in “While we are disappointed by the news of this violation,
going to play anymore, or was released and signed his preseason preparation. we will look to provide the appropriate support to Steven
what was going on.” a minor league contract The Blue Jays have Marcus at this time,” the Red Sox said in a statement.
It turned out there was still with the Arizona Diamond- Stroman and Aaron San- Wright was arrested on Dec. 8, 2017, at his home outside
some interest in Buchholz. backs. He made six starts in chez at the top of their ro- of Nashville, Tennessee, and charged with domestic re-
The 34-year-old right-hand- the minors in all. tation, but there’s a lot of lated assault and prevention of a 911 call, both misde-
er has pitched brilliantly at “I had to swallow a lot of uncertainty beyond those meanors. The Boston Globe reported prosecutors retired
times in his career — but pride last year to do that,” two. Wright’s case contingent on him completing an anger
he has also dealt with in- Buchholz said. “Sort of felt “Obviously, if I would have management course, refraining from violent contact with
juries and even spent time sorry for myself there for the had this opportunity a his wife, and incurring no new criminal charges for a year.
in the minors last year. Now beginning part of it, but got month ago, I would have A starter for most of his career, Wright spent the bulk of
he’s with the Toronto Blue over that pretty quick, and been here a month ago, last season in the bullpen, going 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 20
Jays on a one-year, $3 mil- I’m glad I did it. It helped and I would have been games. In addition to the 15-game suspension, he also
lion contract that includes me. I learned some things ready,” Buchholz said. “I missed all of April recovering from knee surgery and then
plenty of inning-related last year about myself that told them I would keep went back on the disabled list with knee inflammation
performance bonuses. I didn’t really know, and throwing bullpens, and and missed all of August.
Buchholz pitched a de- became a little bit different then once we progress to He was originally on the roster for the first-round playoff se-
cade with the Boston Red pitcher.” live BPs, then we’ll go from ries against the New York Yankees, but he told manager
Sox, showing flashes of His deal with the Blue Jays there, and I’ll keep an open Alex Cora before Game 1 that his knee was bothering
greatness but struggling means a return to the AL mind with everything.” him. He did not appear in the postseason, when the Red
with consistency. He threw East, where his former team NOTES: The Blue Jays an- Sox won their fourth World Series since 2004, and he had
a no-hitter in 2007 in his is coming off another World nounced Wednesday they surgery on his left knee on Nov. 12.
second major league start, Series title. The New York have finalized a minor Wright is ineligible to play in any postseason games this
then went 2-9 with a 6.75 Yankees are also formida- league contract with RHP year and he will lose about half of his salary of $1,375,000.
ERA the following year. He ble. It’s a division Buchholz Bud Norris, who will report to Last year’s suspension cost him $94,624 of his $1.1 million
was an All-Star in 2010 and is familiar with — but now major league spring train- salary.
2013, and in the latter of he’s at the other end of the ing. ... Cavan Biggio, the The only other player to test positive for growth hormone
those two seasons, he went spectrum, with a Toronto son of Hall of Famer Craig under the big league program was Los Angeles Dodgers
12-1 with a 1.74 ERA, even- team that lost 89 games Biggio, homered Wednes- pitcher Josh Ravin in 2016. Four players have tested posi-
tually helping the Red Sox last year. day for Toronto against the tive for growth hormone under the minor league program
to a World Series title. “You have to have a short Philadelphia Phillies.q since 2015.q