Perez banned 80 games
Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez was suspended for 80 games Friday after testing positive for a third time for a banned stimulant, a penalty that finishes his season.
Perez was suspended for 25 games on July 6 when he tested positive for a second time. Under baseball’s labor contract, a player who tests positive for the first time is sent for counseling.
Perez has been the only player suspended by baseball for stimulants since they were banned before the 2006 season.
His first suspension had been set to end after Friday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox, but Tigers president Dave Dombrowski wouldn’t say whether Perez would have been restored to the active roster absent the new positive test.
Under baseball’s labor contract, a player cannot be disciplined multiple times for a positive test stemming from the same use of a banned substance, meaning Perez had to take a prohibited stimulant more than once.
Cubs’ Woods back
Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood was activated from the 60-day disabled list after recovering from a sore shoulder that kept him out of the majors for more than a year.
Wood, the 1998 N.L. rookie of the year, made eight rehab starts and is back in the Cubs bullpen as a short reliever.
Dukes in trouble
Troubled Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes could face up to one year in jail on a charge of violating a protective court order his estranged wife obtained after she said the 23-year-old rookie threatened her and the couple’s children.
On the inactive list since June because of his off the field problems, Dukes is accused of violating a no-contact order with NiShea Gilbert.
Clearing the bases
Infielder Jeff Cirillo was claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was placed on waivers by the Minnesota Twins. The Twins also reinstated right fielder Michael Cuddyer who was out with a bruised right thumb. … Pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel’s long wait to return to the major leagues could be over soon. He has earned a callup from Triple-A – possibly this month, according to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.