MLBPA Indicates Detroit Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta Will Not Be Suspended This Season

July 14, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

According to reports, like this one from the AP that can be found at The Detroit News, the MLB players union has stated that potential suspensions stemming from the Biogenesis investigation will not be served this season.

"Union head Michael Weiner says he expects Major League Baseball will notify the union of its plans for penalties in the next month, and the union will maintain that any discipline should not be announced until after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz upholds a ban.[snip]Weiner says that because of the time needed to prepare and hold hearings, the case of any player challenging a penalty won’t be decided during this season."

If this is true, then it’s particularly good news for the Detroit Tigers organization for two reasons. (1) They won’t be needing to replace their All-Star shortstop during the pennant run with either Ramon Santiago or Danny Worth (or an expensive alternative in a trade), and (2) if he’s going to be suspended in 2014, well, the Tigers can simply allow his contract to expire in the offseason and exlpolre alternatives (or try to re-sign him at a deep, deep discount).

The concern of the Detroit fanbase was that Jhonny Peralta would be handed a suspension in the coming months, that the Tigers wouldn’t be able to properly plan for it, or that a suitable replacement would be cost prohibitive, but it appears as though the team will be able to stay well in front of the suspensions. The season won’t be ruined by a 50-game ban this year, and they’ll likely have much more information to go on as they look toward a potential re-sign in the offseason.