BILOXI, Miss. — Matt Lawton is the latest casualty of Major League Baseball's steroids policy.

The former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder was suspended Wednesday for a positive steroids test, the 12th player to be penalized under the policy. The outfielder, who turns 34 today, has played in the major leagues for 11 years and finished the 2005 season with the New York Yankees. He became a free agent last week.

Lawton is scheduled to serve a 10-game suspension to open the 2006 season. He does not plan to appeal the suspension.

Lawton could not be reached at his Gulfport, Miss., home, and the voicemail box to his cell phone was full.

Lawton, however, read a statement over the telephone to the Associated Press.

"I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life," Lawton told the AP. "I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment."

The Chicago Cubs traded Lawton, a two-time All-Star, to the Yankees in August, but the Yankees left him off their postseason roster.

Lawton is a career .267 hitter with 138 home runs and 630 RBI. His best season was probably in 2000, when he hit .305 with a career-high 88 RBI and 23 stolen bases.