Carlos Martinez has been suspended 80 games. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Free-agent pitcher Carlos Martinez suspended 80 games for PED violation

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 5/27/22

On Friday, MLB announced that free-agent pitcher Carlos Martinez has been suspended 80 games without pay for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Martinez, 30, tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Ibutamoren.

MLB announcement: Free-agent pitcher Carlos Martínez has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Ibutamoren, a performance-enhancing substance. Martínez formerly is of the Cardinals and recently was released by the Red Sox.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 27, 2022

Last season, Martinez finished 4-9 with a 6.23 ERA in 16 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Martinez was granted free agency at the end of the 2021 season after the Cardinals declined the final-year option of a five-year, $51 million contract signed in 2017.

Martinez signed with the San Francisco Giants at the start of 2022 and then joined the Boston Red Sox before being released on May 17.

After signing with the Cardinals in 2010, Martinez made his MLB debut in 2013. He was primarily used out of the bullpen over his first two seasons with the club, pitching in 78 games with eight starts.

The Cardinals added Martinez to their starting rotation full-time in 2015. Over his first three seasons in the rotation, Martinez had a 30-16 record with a 3.02 ERA in 62 starts, earning All-Star nods in 2015 and 2017.

Martinez has a 62-52 record with a 3.74 ERA in nine MLB seasons.

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