A's Mann, Braves' Tate suspended by MLB

NEW YORK -- Athletics left-hander Brandon Mann and Braves righty Richie Tate were suspended Tuesday after both tested positive for banned substances.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Mann received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Ostarine, which is considered a "Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator" (SARM) and a performance-enhancing substance. Tate received a 100-game suspension without pay following a third positive test for a drug of abuse.

Both positive tests are violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and both pitchers will begin serving their bans at the start of this upcoming season.

Mann, 31, signed with Oakland this past October after spending the 2015 season with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the independent American Association, where he set the league's single-season record with 157 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings. He last pitched in the Minors in 2014 with Double-A Altoona, when he went 1-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 14 appearances in the Eastern League.

Originally drafted by Tampa Bay in 2002, Mann has bounced around baseball with several organizations. He played for Yokohama in Japan from 2011-12 before signing with Washington ahead of the 2012 Minor League season. He joined Pittsburgh in December 2013 and was released by the Pirates the following May. The left-hander was listed with Triple-A Nashville when he was suspended.

Ostarine, also known as Enobosarm, is used to help build muscle strength and stamina during workouts. SARMs were also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2008. UFC fighter Tim Means was disqualified from a fight earlier this month after testing positive for the same substance.

Tate, 23, received a 50-game suspension on Feb. 20, 2015 while with Class A Rome. He finally debuted with Carolina, the Braves' Class A Advanced affiliate, on June 7 and went 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 36 innings over 28 relief appearance in the Carolina League. He struck out 35 and walked 24.

Players typically are issued a warning following a first positive test for a drug of abuse and suspensions for second and third offenses. Substances considered "drugs of abuse" by Major League Baseball include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and other opiates.

Major League Baseball has suspended 17 players this year for violations of the Minor League drug program.