Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been permanently banned from MLB for PED use

Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia has been permanently banned from Major League Baseball after testing positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid. It is the third time that Mejia has been suspended for PED use in the last ten months, and the first time that any player has received a permanent ban.

Mejia, who became the Mets' closer in 2014, lost that role to Jeurys Familia after receiving an 80-game suspension for a positive Stanozolol test on April 12. He later returned in a setup role in late July, but quickly tested positive a second time, receiving a 162-game ban that would have carried over into 2016.

Despite this, the right-hander was considered a potential high-upside contributor as the Mets try to return to the postseason in 2016. Mejia and the Mets agreed to a $2.47 million contract this offseason, his second year as an arbitration eligible player.

Thankfully, Mejia is not the linchpin of the bullpen that he was expected to be last year. The emergence of Familia as a top-tier closer, along with the acquisitions of Antonio Bastardo, Jerry Blevins, and Addison Reed, has provided the Mets with a solid bullpen as they enter 2016. Still, the loss of Mejia will be felt in the clubhouse when pitchers and catchers report to St. Lucie next week.