MLB delays suspension for Guillen, Gibbons

Mar 28, 2008 - 6:18 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Major League Baseball delayed the suspensions of Kansas City Royals outfielder Jose Guillen and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons on Friday.

Citing the need for further negotiations regarding the sport's substance-abuse policy, MLB put both suspensions on hold for 10 days.

Both Guillen and Gibbons were both were handed 15-day suspensions by commissioner Bud Selig on December 6.

The news came on the same day that the Royals announced a three-year $36 million contract with Guillen, who played for the Seattle Mariners in 2007 and batted .290 with 23 home runs and 99 RBI.

Guillen was caught in the steroid scandal last November, when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that he bought steroids and human growth hormone from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center in Florida over a period of three years.

Guillen reportedly bought $19,000 worth of steroids between 2003 and 2005, time he split between the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Anaheim Angels and Washington Nationals.

Gibbons reportedly received shipments of steroids and HGH during the same period from the Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida.

Gibbons has spent his entire seven-year career with Baltimore. In 2007, he hit .230 with six home runs and 28 RBI as he played in only 84 games due to injuries.