Free agent Brown suspended 50 games

NEW YORK -- Free agent Dusty Brown was suspended for 50 games Monday after testing positive for a drug of abuse for the second time.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball said Brown violated the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and will begin his suspension immediately upon signing with another Major League organization.

The 32-year-old catcher appeared in 27 Minor League games in the Indians and A's organizations in 2014, hitting a combined .224 with five homers and 10 RBIs. Signed in the 35th round of the 2000 Draft, the right-hander has a lifetime .258 average with 65 homers and 386 RBIs in 829 Minor League outings.

Brown has appeared in 24 Major League games between the Red Sox and Pirates, most recently in 2011 when he played 11 games for Pittsburgh.

Brown is the 43rd player suspended this year for violating the Minor League drug program.