Ryan Braun & PED use in Baseball

Ryan Braun's suspension has generated waves of controversy throughout Wisconsin and nationwide with much of it centering on what can be done to rid baseball of performance enhancing drug use.  Despite having the strongest penalties in major league sports, baseball continues to have its image tarnished by repeated scandals involving some of its major stars.   

Pundits reason that increasing the penalties even further is not likely to accomplish significant change since the penalties are already severe and the huge salaries being paid provide an incentive to cheat.  In fact, several commentators have argued that despite being suspended and penalized by baseball, Braun and other PED abusers will still reap millions of dollars in profits from the increased contracts attributable to their wrongdoing.  

Despite all the handwringing about how the problem is intractable, there is an easy solution.  If I say so myself, the solution is elegant.  The new system would merely graft an additional layer of punishment on to the existing suspension scheme.  The additional layer of discipline would simply add an additional clause as a standard, required provision in every player contract providing that a first violation of the PED policy would result in the player's contract being reduced to the major league minimum salary for the remainder of the contract term.  

Baseball would also enact a rule that this salary penalty would apply for a minimum of four years, regardless of how long the player had remaining on his existing contract.  This would ensure players who were at the end of their contracts or free agents would also be facing substantial economic disincentive. 

 

A second offense would contain the longer suspension and a provision that the player remain at the league minimum salary for the rest of his career.  A third violation would include a lifetime ban. 

Consider for a moment how such a policy would affect superstars like Ryan Braun.  Under the current penalty scheme, Braun will serve a 65 game suspension that will cost him approximately 3.5 million in lost salary.  However, when he returns, the PED use that enhanced his performance sufficiently to prompt the Brewers to sign him to that 10 year, $120 million dollar contract will still have 7 years remaining.   

Under my revised penalty plan, Ryan's decision to break the rules by using PEDs would cost him dearly.  He would still be bound to the Brewers, but would be playing for the league minimum during next 7 years - usually the most productive (and high paying) of a player's career.  In one fell swoop, this change removes the financial incentive for players to cheat.