Free-agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league's joint drug agreement.
Per Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk, MLB announced that Schierholtz tested positive for the growth hormone Ibutamoren.
Since Schierholtz is not currently with an MLB team, his suspension will not begin until after he signs a deal, if that happens.
The 32-year-old last played in the big leagues during the 2014 season, splitting time with the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals. He set career-worst marks in batting average (.195), on-base percentage (.243) and slugging percentage (.309).
Schierholtz signed minor league deals with the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers in each of the last two seasons. The Rangers released him before the 2015 season started, which allowed him to play part of the year with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
This spring the Tigers kept Schierholtz on their Triple-A team for 31 games, where he hit .246/.280/.356, before releasing him May 22.
The last few years have not been kind to Schierholtz, but he was part of the San Francisco Giants' World Series team in 2010. He has played for four teams in eight MLB seasons, hitting .253/.302/.405 in 799 games.
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