The Texas Rangers this week signed two players with checkered pasts to minor-league contracts.
Catcher Mike Ohlman and left-hander Brandon Reed have been suspended for violating Major League Baseball's drug prevention and treatment program for players not on the 40-man major-league roster. There is a separate program, agreed to by the Major League Baseball Players Association, for players on the 40-man roster.
Ohlman served a 50-game suspension in 2012 after a second positive test for a drug of abuse. Substances such as marijuana fall under that heading. Ohlman was in the Baltimore organization at the time.
Mann received an 80-game suspension in 2016 for a first positive test for Ostarine, a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) and performance-enhancing substance that is prohibited by the program. Mann was in the Oakland organization at the time. The Athletics re-signed him as a minor-league free agent for the 2017 season.
According to the agreement, Ohlman would receive a 100-game suspension if he were to test positive again for a drug of abuse. Mann would be suspended for a full season for another positive test of a performance enhancing substance.
Ohlman, who made his major-league debut with Toronto last season, will be in the Rangers' major-league spring training on a non-roster basis. Mann will be in the minor-league camp.