
The quiet winter free agent market was jolted awake on Friday with the announcement that veteran outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for epitrenbolone, a serious violation of Major League Baseball's drug programme.
For a 33-year-old coming off a dismal season and looking for a lifeline in free agency, this revelation is catastrophic. It is not just a failed test; it is a desperate move that has likely torpedoed his career at a critical juncture.