You Can't Spell "Aroldis" without "ARod"

[Edgy MD]

Aroldis Chapman, 2009:

Aroldis Chapman, 2026:

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

He seems to like tattoos. 

[Frayed Knot]

I think the difference can be passed off as normal growth for someone starting at age 21 as he was in that top picture.

On the other hand, you can't spell Aroldis or Rodriguez without ROID, so maybe not.

[Edgy MD]

3 hours ago, Frayed Knot said:

I think the difference can be passed off as normal growth for someone starting at age 21 as he was in that top picture.

'Taint nothing normal about that build.  The man is a mesomorph.

That photo is from 2020.

[MFS62]

When he signed those free agent contracts in the intervening years, didn't anyone ever ask him to pee into the bottle? Isn't that part of a standard pre-employment physical? Didn't they even just look at him?

So much for the MLB policy.

Later

[Gwreck]

2 hours ago, MFS62 said:

When he signed those free agent contracts in the intervening years, didn't anyone ever ask him to pee into the bottle? Isn't that part of a standard pre-employment physical? Didn't they even just look at him?

So much for the MLB policy.

Later

The MLB drug testing policy (https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/oqj0ztqxefst9pmkpbcl.pdf) is jointly agreed upon by the union and MLB and includes random tests of every player at least once during spring training, the regular season, and the offseason, plus additional testing at random (a player might thus be tested 4 or more times in a given year versus the minimum 3).

A team cannot separately mandate its own tests the way an employer without unionized employees might.

[Gwreck]

I’ll also add that I would be very cautious about concluding definitive PED usage based solely on photographs.  
 

Now, if you want to talk about Chapman’s suspension for violating MLB’s Domestic Violence policy…and making some conclusions based on that…I have a different view.

[Cowtipper]

His head isn't four times larger than it used to be, so I'm pretty sure he's just bulked up a lot. 

[Edgy MD]

8 minutes ago, Gwreck said:

I’ll also add that I would be very cautious about concluding definitive PED usage based solely on photographs.  
 

Now, if you want to talk about Chapman’s suspension for violating MLB’s Domestic Violence policy…and making some conclusions based on that…I have a different view.

You go.

[MFS62]

1 hour ago, Gwreck said:

The MLB drug testing policy (https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/oqj0ztqxefst9pmkpbcl.pdf) is jointly agreed upon by the union and MLB and includes random tests of every player at least once during spring training, the regular season, and the offseason, plus additional testing at random (a player might thus be tested 4 or more times in a given year versus the minimum 3).

A team cannot separately mandate its own tests the way an employer without unionized employees might.

Yes, but how many times have we read that a free agent has been signed "pending a physical"? He has been a free agent. As a free agent he isn't subject to the MLBPA until he signs again. His prospective employer can test him for drugs, no?

Later

[Gwreck]

It’s been a while since I’ve read the Basic Agreement, and I am neither a physician nor an expert on collective bargaining.  With those disclaimers:

-I do not believe it is correct that a Free Agent is “not subject to the MLBPA.”  My understanding is that the provisions of the basic agreement between MLB and the union do apply to free agent signings.

-I would not expect standard physicals for players signing free agent contracts to test for PEDs.  I would expect they are mostly orthopedic in nature.  I suppose they could include some standard blood work but I’d expect that to the extent there was specific screening for PEDs or drugs of abuse that any such testing is subject to the joint drug testing program.