Pitcher Fernando Abad, Cubs prospect David Garner suspended for drug violations

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Fernando Abad, an eight-year major league veteran who ended last season with theBoston Red Sox, has been suspended 80 games under baseball's minor league drug program following a positive test for the steroid Stanozolol.

The suspension of the 32-year-old left-hander was announced Thursday by the commissioner's office.

In addition, Chicago Cubs pitcher David Garner was banned for 100 games following a third violation for a drug of abuse. Garner, on the roster of Triple-A Iowa, was suspended for 50 games on March 23 after his second violation for a drug of abuse.

Abad was 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 48 games with the Red Sox last year, became a free agent, agreed to a minor league contract with Philadelphia and was released March 21. He is 8-27 with a 3.65 ERA with Houston (2010-12), Washington (2013), Oakland (2014-15), Minnesota (2016) and the Boston (2016-17).

Abad said he undertook an appeal and "was clear with everything I consumed."

"I would like to apologize to my teammates, staff, MLB, friends and family for my lack of judgement (sic)," Abad said in a statement issued through his agent, Brian Mejia. "I have never knowingly taken any substance to cheat the game in my 12 years of professional baseball."

Garner, a 25-year-old right-hander, was 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 35 relief appearances last year for Double-A Tennessee and Iowa.

There have been 41 players suspended this year under the minor league drug program, as well as eight under the big league drug program: Seattle All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano;Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo;Houston pitcher Dean Deetz; Washington catcher Raudy Read; Pittsburgh pitcher Nik Turley; Kansas City outfielder Jorge Bonifacio; Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone; and Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco.