It turns out there is a loophole in the major-league rules regarding a positive marijuana test. Players on the 40-man roster cannot be suspended for such a result. Minor leaguers can. If the Cardinals added Reyes to the 40-man roster Friday, he would report to major-league spring training and be eligible to play in the games. He would, of course, also have to be optioned out of camp if he didn’t make the major-league team and, thus, burn one of his three option years. That’s not a big deal if he’s the player they think he’ll be, until it is a big deal as it likely will be for lefty Marco Gonzales.

That said, the transaction – a relatively simple one – would delete Reyes’ suspension immediately and free up the righty to pitch for the Cardinals or a minor-league affiliate earlier.

The Cardinals don’t intend to take advantage.

They don’t need the young pitcher now, they always saw him as a midseason or late-season arrival this year, and they don’t mind the idea of having him learn from his mistake. He’s coming to STEP camp to be close to the action and see what he’s missing as a result of his suspension, but he won’t be part of that action. You know Reyes. So here are the 23 other players coming to STEP camp with a little ditty on some of them:

RHP Sandy Alcantara