Cleveland Indians: Steve Delabar blew his chance with the Indians

The Cleveland Indians signed relief pitcher Steve Delabar to a minor league deal this offseason, but a PED suspension derailed his chances with the team.

Cleveland Indians fans may have never known Steve Delabar was in the organization, and the former All-Star relief pitcher ensured these individuals may never see him in an Indians uniform.

Delabar, who was signed to a minor league deal this offseason, recently tested positive for a PED and will be suspended 80 games. He was in Columbus before the suspension.

He wasn’t a candidate to make the major league bullpen when the season began, but a solid showing in Columbus could have allowed him to eventually move up into that final bullpen spot that was originally won by Shawn Armstrong, but is now held by Nick Goody.

But the PED suspension seals his fate for the 2017 season, as the Indians are not likely to call him up upon his return, as he is now ineligible for the postseason.

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Even if he comes back after missing 80 games and does well in the summer, the team will opt to go with players like Goody or Armstrong who will have those 80 games to continue proving themselves while Delabar must sit at home.

Delabar’s signing wasn’t a high-profile move for the Indians, but there may have been some hope he could return to his old ways, such as his All-Star season in 2013 when he logged 58 2/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The move was not a bad decision on the team’s part, as spring training is a great time to bring in veterans who had past success to see if it can be replicated in the present.

Such a deal led to Austin Jackson winning a job, and could have eventually resulted in the same for Delabar if not for this unfortunate suspension.

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Alas, this serves as a casual reminder that PEDs aren’t tolerated and the punishment may be enough to end a once-promising career for player like Delabar who aren’t superstars.