Both Kevin Frandsen and Joe Dickerson faced uncertainty at the end of spring training upon being released by, respectively, the Padres and Twins. That feeling is magnified with Major League Baseball's announcement today that both players must sit out 50 games without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

The 28-year-old Frandsen, who tested positive for Ritalinic acid, signed with the Phillies on April 1 and had batted .330/.377/.514 with three homers in 109 at-bats for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The utility infielder appeared in 54 games for the Angels last season, chiefly as a fill-in at third base for Brandon Wood, and has taken 626 plate appearances in parts of five seasons in the big leagues. Most of that playing time came with the ’07 Giants, the organization that drafted him in the 12th round in ’04 out of San Jose State.

Dickerson tested positive for an amphetamine, but his suspension will not begin unless or until he signs with a major league organization. A Royals' fourth-round pick out of an Anaheim high school in ’05, he earned his release by Kansas City last June after batting .284/.358/.416 over five seasons spent almost exclusively in the low minors. He finished out the ’10 season in the independent Golden League, batting 1-for-12 for St. George. The Twins brought him to spring training on a minor league deal this spring.