Mets' Cano suspended without pay for 2021 season after 2nd positive PED test

Major League Baseball has suspended New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano without pay for the entire 2021 season after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, the league announced Wednesday.

This is Cano's second positive test for the steroid stanozolol after receiving an 80-game ban in 2018. He will forego the entirety of his $24-million salary.

Though the Mets are no longer on the hook for Cano's 2021 salary, he's still owed $24 million in each of the following two seasons.

"We were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson's suspension for violating Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program," Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a statement. "The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB's efforts toward eliminating performance-enhancing substances from the game."

Cano slashed .316/.352/.544 with 10 home runs in a resurgent 49 games this summer. The Mets acquired him alongside closer Edwin Diaz in 2018 in exchange for top prospect Jarred Kelenic, right-hander Justin Dunn, and others.