NEW YORK, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- New York Yankees outfielder Matt Lawton has been suspended for 10 days for violating baseball's substance abuse policy.
The commissioner's office made the announcement Wednesday.
The suspension was under the major league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and will take effect at the start of the 2006 season, if Lawton, who played for the Yankees, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs in 2005, signs with another team. He became a free agent last week.
Lawton is the 12th player disciplined for violating the substance policy. Among others are former Baltimore first baseman/DH Rafael Palmeiro, who was punished after a drug test came up positive for steroids during the summer.
Lawton, an All-Star in 2000 with Minnesota and 2004 with Cleveland, was acquired from the Cubs in August, but was not included on New York's post-season roster. Overall, he batted .254 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. He has a lifetime batting average of .267.
