Snow Suspended for 50 Games, Ibanez To Return in 2014

Sep 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter

(28) congratulated by teammates after he hits a home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher

(not pictured) in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Forrest Snow, a right-handed pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization has been suspended for 50 games without pay after a second positive test for drug abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The 6-foot-6, 24-year old Snow split 2013 between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma compiling records of 1-5 with a 3.00 ERA and 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA respectively.

Snow was a 36th-round selection in the 2010 draft. His suspension will be effective at the beginning of the 2014 season.

Ibanez Wants to Return in 2014 (Mariners should JUST SAY NO)

Raul Ibanez has stated that he wishes to return to play again in 2014. The 41-year old may lead the Mariners in homers with 28, but only four of those of come since the All-Star Break. His next homer will be the 300th of his career and if he gets it this year, he will tie Ted Williams‘ record for most homers in a season by a player 41-years old or older.

But if the team is truly focusing on the future, and it should, then Ibanez should not be a part of it.

Ibanez is at the end of a one-year, $2.75 million deal. He will become a free agent after the season. In his third stint with the M’s, Ibanez is clearly still a capable stick. However, the priority for this offseason should be a young, free agent outfielder who can hit for power. Someone like Hunter Pence.

But, in true Mariner-style, the team will likely extend him an offer and he will probably accept it. I like Ibanez, I really do. I just don’t feel like giving him the Ken Griffey Jr. treatment at the end of his career is something we should be doing…..again. Remember how that ended?

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