Then the 32-year-old journeyman outfielder, who never reached the Majors, was suspended for 100 games Monday afternoon following his third positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension will be effective immediately upon his return to Major League Baseball.

But an encore might be unlikely. Weber was hitting .257 with a homer and 16 RBIs this season combined between the Mud Hens, Detroit's top affiliate, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He made a strong bid earlier this year at Yankees camp in Tampa, finishing 14-for-31 (.452) with six RBIs in 18 games.

He was assigned to Triple-A to begin his 11th season, a year after hitting .302 with 14 homers and 69 RBIs as an International League postseason All-Star for the Rays at Triple-A Durham.

Weber signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 1999 and began his winding career with Rookie-level Billings that summer. He left the Reds and went on to play for Oakland, Los Angeles (NL), Arizona, Texas, Tampa Bay, New York (AL) and finally, Detroit, earning Southern League All-Star honors in 2005 with Double-A Jacksonville. The Texas Tech product also spent several years with independent league teams.

Also suspended Monday were Guido Gomez, a free agent pitcher who received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, and Wilmer Colmenarez, a Dodgers' Minor Leaguer currently playing with the club's Dominican Summer League affiliate. The suspension of Gomez will be effective upon signing with a Major League organization.

Colmenarez received a 50-game ban, effective immediately, after testing positive for Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance. The 20-year-old had appeared in only one game, recording five outs July 12.