Guillermo Mota: San Francisco Giants Reliever Suspended 100 Games for PEDs

The MLB steroid policy has uncovered its first offender of the 2012 season.

As reported by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, San Francisco Giants reliever Guillermo Mota has been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs:

"

BREAKING: Guillermo Mota of #SFGiants receives 100-game suspension after testing positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) May 7, 2012"

This isn’t the first time Mota has been disciplined by the league for PEDs. In 2006, the hard-throwing righty was suspended for 50 games, but the New York Mets still re-signed him and he has been in the big leagues ever since.

The 38-year-old Dominican native has struggled in the Giants’ first 28 games this season. In 10.2 innings of work, he has allowed six earned runs on 13 hits, while striking out nine and walking four. His 1.59 WHIP and 0-1 record suggest that the PEDs were not doing a whole lot for a player battling his biological clock.

Now, Mota's future with the team is in serious danger. After serving his 100 games, there will only be 34 games left on schedule. Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News wonders if Mota has played his final game as a member of the Giants:

"

And Mota had a prior PED positive. This has to be the end of his career--at least his Giants career. Just has to be.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 7, 2012"

The Giants have already lost closer Brian Wilson for the year with Tommy John surgery and Jeremy Affeldt is currently on the disabled list with a knee injury. With Mota’s suspension, San Francisco is now very short on bullpen depth—a strength of the ball club coming into the season. 

Mota is only the third active player to get busted twice for PEDs in the new policy incorporated by Major League Baseball. Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo and outfielder Manny Ramirez were also suspended 100 games in 2011. 

Ramirez has yet to play another game in the majors, but is slated to suit up for the Oakland Athletics later this season. Will Mota ever throw another pitch at the professional level?

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter