Former Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia wants to challenge agreement that led to lifetime ban

Former Mets closer Jenrry Mejia wants to challenge the agreement he made not to appeal his third positive drug test, which led to a lifetime ban from baseball.

Banned on Feb. 12, Mejia spoke at a news conference Friday in the office of one of his new lawyers. They accused Major League Baseball of orchestrating the third positive test because Mejia refused to implicate another individual, whom they would not identify, in the use of performance-enhancing drugs. MLB denies the allegations.

Mejia was suspended for 80 games last April 11 following a positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders, and now admits he did take a banned substance then. He returned July 12, appeared in seven games for New York, then was suspended for 162 games on July 28 after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone.

“They asked me if I knew someone. I told them I couldn’t give them information on that person,” Mejia said, referring to a discussion last summer. “They told me that if I appealed, they had a third test, they could check it, and if they found something in the third test, they could ban me for life, like they’re doing now, but if I didn’t appeal, they would leave me alone. I could go back to practice and come back to baseball after the second suspension.”

Speaking mostly in Spanish but occasionally in English in a crowded small conference room in Queens, Mejia said his agent, Peter Greenberg, was present when the threat was made. Greenberg did not respond to an email seeking comment.

While the lawyer, Vincent White, said Mejia refused to implicate another player, Mejia said the individual in question was not a player.

“I have my dignity,” Mejia said. “I can clear my name by myself, fighting my case, but I won’t clear my name throwing someone else under the bus.”

Greenberg and officials of the Major League Baseball Players Association did not attend the news conference.

Mejia became the first baseball player given a lifetime ban for PEDs when he tested positive for Boldenone, which athletes have used to increase muscle mass and once was popular for use in horse racing.

Pirates sign Freese to one-year deal

Infielder David Freese and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $3-million, one-year contract.

The 32-year-old, an All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012, hit .257 with 27 doubles, 14 homers and 56 RBIs last year with the Los Angeles Angels. He has a .276 career average with 68 homers and 348 RBIs for St. Louis (2009-13) and the Angels (2014-15).

Freese was MVP of the NL Championship Series and World Series in 2011, when he hit .397 with five homers and 21 RBIs during the postseason.

To clear a roster spot, the Pirates designated left-hander Jesse Biddle for assignment.

Etc.

New York Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has a strained patella tendon in his left knee and could miss the start of the season. Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Cabrera will be out for two weeks, then resume baseball activity as he is able. The Mets open the season April 3 at Kansas City in a rematch of the 2015 World Series. ... Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has cleared one of the biggest hurdles in his offseason rehab. Brantley took batting practice on a field for the first time this offseason on Friday, marking his clearance to take part in all baseball activities. ... Left-hander Randy Choate has agreed to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and will report to big league spring training.