Mets 'Haven't Considered' Fate Of Jordany Valdespin
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Jordany Valdespin wasn't exactly on solid footing in the Mets organization, and that was before his 50-game suspension as part of Major League Baseball's investigation into Biogenesis.
Still, the team has no existing plans to release the utility player, general manager Sandy Alderson said Tuesday.
"I don't think that we've even thought about that issue at this point," Alderson said. "At some point between now and the end of that suspension, we'll have had those conversations. But certainly we haven't considered that at this point."
His involvement with Biogenesis surprised almost everyone who had been following baseball's latest performance-enhancing drugs scandal. But Alderson said the team knew Valdespin's name would be on the list.
"We were aware of it before yesterday," he said. "Let's put it that way."
Another Mets minor leaguer, Cesar Puello, was among the players accepting 50-game bans Monday.
"Certainly we're all saddened by the fact that both Jordany and Cesar made a mistake, because they both have talent," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "In Jordany's case, to be honest, he's got skills that a lot of them are off the charts. He's got power that a guy his size you wouldn't think has. He can run. He's got a good arm. He's just got to slow the game down. He gets caught up and he's an emotional guy."
The 25-year-old Valdespin had drawn headlines for not wearing a cup and feeling the consequences; showboating; reportedly trying to avoid an at-bat when the whole team knew a hit-by-pitch was coming; and reportedly insulting Collins after his demotion July 13. And that was just this season.
Alderson acknowledged on WFAN radio in May that Valdespin wasn't "the most popular guy in the clubhouse."
"I hope he realizes the mistakes he's made, and next time he just tries to be a baseball player and not a superstar," Collins said. "When I first came to this organization, I told Omar Minaya that Jordany Valdespin was going to be the minor league player of the year. I could guarantee it because I was not going to let him get off the path. Unfortunately, I wasn't there every day and he got off the path a few times."
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