Cleveland outfielder Almonte suspended 80 games

With injured All-Star Michael Brantley likely out for the first portion of the season, the Cleveland Indians spent plenty of time this offseason looking for ways to fill the large hole he’ll leave in the outfield.

That search became more difficult Friday when Abraham Almonte was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” Indians general manager Mike Chernoff said. “We were hoping that he would be a large contributor for our major league team this year.”

Almonte, a former Seattle Mariner, was set to address his teammates on Saturday, before he is removed from the team’s 40-man roster and placed on the restricted list.

Almonte won’t be able to play in regular-season big-league games until July. He will remain in the Indians’ clubhouse throughout spring training.

Almonte is the third major league player to be suspended for drugs this year. Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia drew a permanent ban and Cincinnati’s Juan Duran got an 80-game suspension.

Scully votes no

Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully says he wouldn’t vote Pete Rose into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Scully was asked by freelance writer Jon Saraceno whether he would vote to induct Rose if Scully had a say, which he does not.

“I wouldn’t,” Scully said. “Should he be in? He should be. But by his own hand, he locked the door and kept himself outside.”

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred in December rejected Rose’s bid for reinstatement partly because the former Cincinnati Reds star still bets legally in Las Vegas, where he lives. Rose agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation for MLB found that Rose placed numerous bets on the Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team.

Around the bases

Rangers ace Yu Darvish could be getting back on a full-size mound in his next bullpen session for the first time in nearly a year after elbow surgery. … The Cubs signed veteran outfielder Shane Victorino to a minor league contract. Victorino will compete for one of Chicago’s final roster spots. … Yasiel Puig participated in his first full spring training workout with the Dodgers after getting two wisdom teeth removed. … Closer Aroldis Chapman rejoined the Yankees after missing two days of spring training this week while tending to a family matter. … Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb and is hoping it heals enough for him to play on opening day.