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Miami Marlins Dee Gordon: Hit With PED Suspension

By Brad Kelly

Apr 23, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds (25) gives instruction to Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) during batting practice before the game against San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds (25) gives instruction to Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) during batting practice before the game against San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dee Gordon has been suspended 80 game after failing a PED test. The Miami Marlins and fantasy owners alike are now left with a huge void to fill. What is the fantasy fallout?

In this day and age of baseball, it almost boggles the mind to see MLB players still getting suspended for PED. Just as in the case in DUI’s, there is no excuse for the irresponsibility. Dee Gordon by no means is a slugger or profiles as a guy that would depend on PED, but today’s news of his suspension, serves as tough blow for fantasy owners and especially the Miami Marlins.

Gordon has resurrected his career over the last few seasons, as he has shed the offensive and defensive liability label that plagued him during the beginning of his career. Now I do not want to chalk his success up to PED’s or anything of that nature, but his suspension does comes as a true surprise.

PED can be used to help with multiple ailments other than purely being used to add muscle, but for whatever reason Gordon decided to take a questionable supplement anyways. We should also concede that Gordon may have accidentally taken something he had no idea would fail testing, but with doctors and nutritionists at arm’s reach, it is still inexcusable not have it cleared before hand.

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This serves as a huge blow to the Miami Marlins, who not only lose their star top of the order talent and speed threat, but also lose arguably one of their marquee faces of the organization as well. Looking at the internal replacements, one would think that Derek Dietrich would begin to see a lion sharing of playing time at either third, moving Martin Prado to second, or simply just being inserted as the everyday second basemen.

Dietrich has shown to be a power threat when he gets hot, but is often exposed versus lefties, so he is nothing more than a deep league waiver add. As it currently sits, Gordon is tied for third in the league in steals with 6, showing not only the lack of true speedsters left in the game, but reminds fantasy owners of the biggest loss his suspension brings.

Looking at potential waiver options, some pure SB options left on the wire could be, Rajai Davis, Jarrod Dyson, and Melvin Upton Jr. Those who are looking for MI options could look to, Chris Owings, Zack Cozart, Jordy Mercer, or Ketel Marte, as players that soften somewhat of the void that Gordon leaves.

Next: Los Angeles Angels Huston Street: Placed on the DL

This news sucks for everyone involved and it’s never something you want to still see in the game. Both the Marlins and fantasy owners will not find an ample replacement, because of Gordon’s unique and invaluable skill set. Owners will need to hit the waiver wire hard to make sure that they get one of the better options available at a notoriously weak fantasy position. This news serves as a big blow to fantasy teams, but with effective waiver wire management, the loss can be hopefully negated.

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