The news is of small consequence to the 2013 Oakland A's.
Multiple media outlets reported Friday that Major League Baseball updated its drug policy to include postseason bans for any player who was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.
The rule is in response to Jhonny Peralta being allowed to rejoin the Detroit Tigers for their playoff run after being suspended for 50 games for PED use during the season.
Peralta signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in November.
According to USA TODAY Sports, Peralta returned for the American League Divisional Series against the Athletics, batted .417 and knocked in five runs during Detroit's series win that required all five games.
The drug policy has not yet been finalized.
The new drug policy will be stricter because of the number of players involved in the Biogenesis scandal last season, including Peralta. First-time offenders will receive 80-game suspensions, rather than 50. Second-time offenders will be suspended for the entire season.
According to tracking.si.com, MLB Players Association chief Tony Clark said the league and union are united in their hope that the stricter punishments help clean up the game.
"Our hope here is that the adjustments that we've made do inevitably get that number to zero," said Clark, a former All-Star himself. "In the event that that doesn't happen, for whatever reason, we'll re-evaluate and move forward from there. But as I sit here, I am hopeful that players make the right decisions that are best for them, for their careers and for the integrity of the game."
The new policy also is expected to force drug policy violators to forfeit any and all postseason bonus money. Also, players suspended for the entire season would lose their entire year's salary.
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