Ex-A's starter Esteban Loaiza held on drug-smuggling charges

Esteban Loaiza, a starting pitcher for the Oakland A’s 2006 ALCS team, was arrested Friday on suspicion of smuggling cocaine and heroin.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Loaiza was booked into jail and is being held on felony charges of suspected possession of heroin and cocaine over 20 kilograms (44 pounds), possession of narcotics for sale, and possession and transportation of narcotics for sale.

San Diego Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Vickery told the Associated Press that the packages are still being tested. Loaiza is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Loaiza’s agent, John Boggs, told The Chronicle that he had no information about the arrest and that he has not spoken to Loaiza recently. He said that Loaiza had called his office early last week but Boggs was unavailable and Loaiza never called back.

“I am shocked and saddened by the news and had no indication he would ever be in this type of situation,” Boggs said via text. “I don’t know how he would get himself involved in this, so it’s difficult to even comment on it.”

Photo: Ross D. Franklin, AP

Image 1of/4

Caption

Image 1 of 4

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2007, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers' Esteban Loaiza throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game in Phoenix. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza has been arrested in California on suspicion of smuggling cocaine and heroin. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says Loaiza was booked into jail Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, evening and held in lieu of $200,000 bail. less

Photo: Ross D. Franklin, AP

Image 2 of 4

FILE-- Esteban Loaiza of the Oakland Athletics poses for a portrait during Oakland Athletics Photo Day on February 27, 2006 at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza has been arrested in California on suspicion of smuggling cocaine and heroin. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says Loaiza was booked into jail Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, evening and held in lieu of $200,000 bail. less

Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images

Image 3 of 4

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2007, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Esteban Loaiza reacts after giving up his third home run in the third inning against the San Diego Padres during their baseball game in Los Angeles. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Esteban Loaiza has been arrested in California on suspicion of smuggling cocaine and heroin. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says Loaiza was booked into jail Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, evening and held in lieu of $200,000 bail. less

Photo: Gus Ruelas, AP

Image 4 of 4

Loaiza, 46, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2006 while playing for the A’s; according to police reports, at 2:40 a.m. on June 15, he was going more than 100 mph in his yellow Ferrari on 580 near San Leandro. He apologized to the team, the fans and the league and started the next day in an A’s victory over Seattle.

In the wake of Loaiza’s DUI, the A’s became the first major-league team to stop providing beer in the home and visiting clubhouses; many other teams followed suit in subsequent years.

After signing a three-year, $21.4 million contract with Oakland in 2006, Loaiza went 12-9 in 28 starts over an injury-marred season and a half; the Dodgers claimed him the following August.

Loaiza’s most important start for the A’s came in Game 3 of the 2006 division series, when he allowed eight hits and two runs in Oakland’s eventual 5-2 victory over the Twins. In Game 2 of the ALCS, he allowed nine hits and seven runs in the A’s 8-5 loss to the Tigers.

Along with the A’s and Dodgers, Loaiza pitched for the Pirates, Rangers, Blue Jays, White Sox, Yankees and Nationals.

Loaiza was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and attended high school in Imperial Beach, near San Diego. He was briefly married to singer Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash in 2012.

Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser

Let's block ads! (Why?)