Twins pitcher Rincon becomes fifth player to test positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The baseball players' union told commissioner Bud Selig on Monday that it was willing to talk to him about his call for harsher steroids penalties.

"We will look forward to discussing the points you raised," union head Donald Fehr said in a letter to Selig.

Last week, Selig wrote to Fehr, asking players to agree to even tougher penalties than the ones that took effect at the start of the season. Selig now wants a 50-game suspension for first-time steroid offenders, a 100-game ban for a second offense and a lifetime suspension for a third violation.

Earlier in the day, Minnesota Twins reliever Juan Rincon was suspended for 10 days after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He was the fifth player banned under the Major League Baseball policy, and the most well-known.

Rincon's agent, Ed Setlik, said a grievance was planned. But unlike other penalties, suspensions under this policy take effect immediately and are not delayed pending a hearing.

"Suffice it to say, he was devastated and stunned by the result," Setlik said after speaking with Rincon.

Rincon was a key contributor to the Twins' AL Central-winning team last season. He went 11-6 with two saves and a 2.63 ERA in 77 games. This year, the right-handed reliever was 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 appearances.

Rincon has a $440,000 salary this year. The suspension will cost him $24,044.

Under current rules, the first offense draws a 10-day suspension. The penalties increase to 30 days for a second positive test, 60 days for a third violation and one year for a fourth. The penalty for a fifth failure is at the commissioner's discretion.

Along with stiffening the penalties under his "three strikes and you are out approach," Selig also wants the union to ban amphetamines, to increase random tests and to pick an independent person to handle the big league drug-testing program.

Along with Rincon, four other players have been suspended for 10 days: Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez, Colorado outfielder Jorge Piedra, Texas minor league pitcher Agustin Montero and Seattle minor league outfielder Jamal Strong.

Baseball does not have any penalties for amphetamine use by players on 40-man major league rosters. Amphetamines, however, are banned for players with minor league contracts.