Jesus Montero: 50-game Suspension

May 19, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Montero (63) sits behind home plate after Cleveland Indians shortstop Mike Aviles (not pictured) scored from second base on a ground out in the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

How the mediocre have fallen.

Jesus Montero, who was the 2013 Mariners opening game starter behind home plate, received a 50-game suspension today (Monday, August 5th) from Major League Baseball in lieu of the now world-famous Biogenesis investigation involving performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) from the anti-aging clinic in Florida.

Since the rumors began to spread on the Biogenesis PED front the name Jesus Montero has been listed and mentioned throughout. Jesus Montero himself, though, was adamant that he had “no idea” why his name was on the “Biogenesis list”. BS Montero, you knew exactly why. And now, according to Jack Z., Montero’s suspension has been contained, meaning there is zero possibility he will play again for the Seattle Mariners in 2013.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, this suspension has a menial effect on the 2013 squad. Montero hasn’t been “True to the Blue” since May 23rd, when he was demoted to AAA-Tacoma after a horrendous offensive and defensive start to the season. And, seeing as he has been suspended for 50-games for the PEDs, he hasn’t exactly been true to baseball in who knows how long.

All in all this has been a terrible year for Montero, both forced and unforced. After being sent to AAA-Tacoma he tore his meniscus and was out for another six weeks recovering. The Mariners have abandoned the “Jesus Montero: Catcher” project, and are now trying to turn him into a first baseman in Tacoma.

But he won’t be playing for the Mariners organization in any capacity for the remainder of the season.

So what are the long-term effects? Looking at it right it doesn’t seem like a whole lot. The M’s have Zunino as the catcher of the future, despite his current DL-stint with a broken hamate bone in his hand. And, seeing how Smoak has been since his return from injury, the fort at first base seems to be held down adequately.

Thank god Pineda hasn’t paid off in New York thus far, or this ‘blockbuster’ trade would be another of many on the list of Mariners trade disasters.

Happy hunting Jesus Montero, it seems as if your career in Seattle may be over before it even really started.