Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Starling Marte has been suspended 80 games after a positive PED test, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.
In 13 games this season, Marte is hitting .241/.288/.370 with a double, two homers and seven RBI. During the offseason, the Pirates moved Marte a two-time Gold Glove winner from left field to center field, with Andrew McCutchen shifting from center to right field and Gregory Polanco from right to left. It remains to be seen how Pittsburgh will replace Marte and how its will configure its outfield.
And the ramifications could extend far beyond the 80-game ban, which begins immediately:
Marte, 28, made his first All-Star team in 2016, when he hit .311/.362/.456 with 34 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 46 RBI and 47 stolen bases.
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