Royals’ Guillen receives another stay on his 15-day suspension
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
Royals outfielder José Guillen remains in limbo regarding his 15-day suspension, but he also remains in the lineup.
For now, anyway.
Major League Baseball and the players’ union agreed Wednesday afternoon to another stay in Guillen’s suspension, which was scheduled to begin with today’s game.
The new extension permits Guillen to play through Tuesday while the two sides continue negotiations to strengthen the sport’s drug agreement.
“It is what it is,” Guillen said. “I’m still playing.”
Guillen, 31, received a 15-day suspension Dec. 6 for unspecified violations in the drug policy. The ban was scheduled to take effect when the season started before the two sides agreed March 28 to a 10-day stay.
“That’s good news for us,” manager Trey Hillman said before Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. “I’m glad that we got that information in enough time to make plans for today’s lineup and beyond.”
The Royals likely would have recalled an outfielder, probably Shane Costa, if Guillen’s stay had not been extended.
Guillen has yet to provide the pop the Royals envisioned last December when they signed him for $36 million over three years. He contributed an RBI single to Wednesday’s victory but has just five hits in 33 at-bats.
“I just think he’s trying to do a little too much,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “but his presence in the middle of the lineup is allowing other people to have some success.
“And he’s going to be fine. I keep feeling that every at-bat he’s going to smoke the ball. His approach is good.”
While negotiators appear close to an agreement on revisions in the drug policy, union officials are insisting commissioner Bud Selig grant amnesty to all players cited in the Mitchell Report in return for their endorsement.
The tougher policy would include more frequent testing and an increase in the authority of an independent program administrator.
Those changes were recommended by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell at the conclusion of his report on the use of steroids. Mitchell also recommended amnesty for the 86 players, including Guillen, cited in the report except for extreme cases that threaten the game’s integrity.
Selig is resisting the amnesty clause. He wants guilty players to be held accountable even if penalties are limited to fines or mandatory counseling.
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