Starling Marte Suspended 80 Games for Violating MLB PED Policy

Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder Starling Marte has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. 

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports first reported Marte tested positive for PEDs. Big League Stew tweeted out the official press release from MLB announcing Marte's suspension.

Marte issued a statement after his suspension was announced, per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal on Facebook:

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Marte will begin serving his suspension immediately and will be ineligible for the postseason if the Pirates make it that far. 

Marte has been one of the most valuable outfielders in MLB over the past four seasons. He has won two straight Gold Glove awards and set career highs in batting average (.311), on-base percentage (.362) and stolen bases (47) in 2016. 

His 16.7 FanGraphs wins above replacement from 2013 through 2016 is tied for fourth among all MLB outfielders, behind Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen and Bryce Harper. 

With Marte suspended, the Pirates could shift McCutchen or Gregory Polanco into center field. Prospect Austin Meadows is in Triple-A, though he's struggled through 10 games with a .162/.220/.270 line with 10 strikeouts in 37 at-bats. 

For more news, rumors and related stories about Starling Marte, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball, check out the MLB and Pirates streams on Bleacher Report's app.