Sports betting claims another career. The latest is San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who placed over 387 bets totaling $150,000 on a legal sportsbook. The investigation also led to the suspension of four others: Michael Kelley (Oakland A's), Jay Groome (San Diego Padres), Andrew Salawfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Jose Rodríguez (Philadelphia Phillies). Three of those four placed the bets while they were still in the minors, their one-year suspension differing from Marcano's, as they never bet on their own games. Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement that the longstanding prohibition on betting on baseball for those who have the privilege to play the game has been in place for over a century, suggesting the newfound legality and popularity of sports betting does not circumscribe the ban in place. As we continue to embrace sports gambling as a society, these instances will only continue to occur. We have already seen lifetime bans in both basketball and baseball, as well as suspensions in football. It is clear that something needs to be done to help prevent this.

A solution I am proposing has already been used to an extent. When caught, publicize the record and let's all have a good laugh. I have never been the best handicapper with a record of 79-82-1 (-14.26 units) per my Action app. But my gosh, did Tucupita stink! Out of all 387 major league bets, he won just 17 of them, and not a single one that he had placed on his own team. Maybe a lifetime ban is not in order with a 4.3% win percentage betting on the sport that is your livelihood. Instead, I think Tucupita should have to continue playing and deal with the heckles of degenerate gamblers, ballpark to ballpark, for the rest of his career. Make him an example to all current and future professional athletes: if you bet on sports, your record will be public, and we will heckle and fade you as long as you are in the league and gambling.