Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees’ new closer and a four-time All-Star, was suspended for 30 games on Tuesday by Major League Baseball under its new domestic violence policy.
The suspension came after negotiations between Major League Baseball executives and lawyers for Chapman and the players’ union arrived at a number that was amenable to both sides, according to a baseball official who was briefed on the negotiations. As a result, Chapman will not appeal the ruling, although he had recently stated that he intended to do so.
Commissioner Rob Manfred had wanted to make a firm statement through the new policy, which was unveiled last August and constructed in conjunction with the union. But he also wanted a punishment that would hold up rather than be reduced or even overturned, as happened in recent domestic violence cases in the N.F.L. over which Commissioner Roger Goodell presided.
Under the terms of the ruling, Chapman, who the police said fired eight shots into a wall of his garage after an altercation with his girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, in October, will be able to participate in spring training but will sit out once opening day arrives at the beginning of April.
No charges were brought against Chapman in the October incident, but baseball’s domestic violence policy allows Manfred to impose discipline regardless of whether a player is charged with or convicted of a crime. Players can challenge any penalties through arbitration, but that will not happen in this instance.
Earlier in spring training, Chapman, speaking Spanish through an interpreter, said: “I’ve never hurt anybody, never in my life. That’s not my character or who I am.” As a result, he said he would appeal any suspension.
But on Tuesday, after his punishment was announced, Chapman took an entirely different tone.
“Today, I accepted a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball resulting from my actions on October 30, 2015,” he said in a statement. “I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening. However, I should have exercised better judgment with respect to my actions, and for that I am sorry.
“The decision to accept a suspension, as opposed to appealing one, was made after careful consideration. I made this decision in an effort to minimize the distractions that an appeal would cause the Yankees, my new teammates and most importantly, my family. I have learned from this matter, and I look forward to being part of the Yankees’ quest for a 28th World Series title. Out of respect for my teammates and my family, I will have no further comment.”
Under the terms of the suspension, Chapman will be eligible to return to the major league roster on May 9, when the Yankees will be at home against the Kansas City Royals. Chapman will also forfeit $1.7 million of his 2016 salary.
In its own statement, the Major League Baseball Players Association said it and its members did not condone the mistreatment of others by playing or nonplaying personnel. “At the same time, the M.L.B.P.A. remains committed to protecting and ensuring the rights granted to players under the applicable provisions of the sport’s new Joint Policy on Domestic Violence. As such, the M.L.B.P.A. supports Mr. Chapman’s decision to forgo his right to an appeal.”
According to the police report of the incident, which occurred in Davie, Fla., Chapman fired the eight shots into a wall of his garage after an altercation in which he choked Barnea. She told police that at no point was she not able to breathe.
Chapman’s driver told the police that Chapman had fired the gun shortly after punching the window of his car and cutting his finger. Barnea, who told the police she had been hiding in bushes outside Chapman’s home at the time, was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when she heard shots.
The police report also said no one other than Chapman was in the garage when the shots were fired.
Even after the police chose not to press charges, Broward County prosecutors twice looked into doing so but declined both times because of conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence after Barnea and other witnesses refused to cooperate.
Chapman, who will become a free agent at the end of the season, was on the verge of being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early December when Yahoo disclosed the incident. The Dodgers backed out of the deal. The Boston Globe reported that the Boston Red Sox stopped their pursuit of Chapman weeks earlier after learning of the case.
When the Reds drastically cut the asking price for Chapman, the Yankees decided that the opportunity to acquire one of the game’s premier relievers was too good to pass up. On Dec. 28, they sent four midlevel prospects to the Reds for Chapman.
“Given the circumstances that exist, the price point on the acquisition has been modified,” General Manager Brian Cashman said then. “We felt this was an opportunity to add a big arm to our bullpen.”
The Yankees are equipped to withstand Chapman’s absence with Andrew Miller, who saved 36 games in 38 opportunities last season. Behind him is Dellin Betances, who has been an All-Star in his first two seasons in the big leagues.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/s...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The suspension came after negotiations between Major League Baseball executives and lawyers for Chapman and the players’ union arrived at a number that was amenable to both sides, according to a baseball official who was briefed on the negotiations. As a result, Chapman will not appeal the ruling, although he had recently stated that he intended to do so.
Commissioner Rob Manfred had wanted to make a firm statement through the new policy, which was unveiled last August and constructed in conjunction with the union. But he also wanted a punishment that would hold up rather than be reduced or even overturned, as happened in recent domestic violence cases in the N.F.L. over which Commissioner Roger Goodell presided.
Under the terms of the ruling, Chapman, who the police said fired eight shots into a wall of his garage after an altercation with his girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, in October, will be able to participate in spring training but will sit out once opening day arrives at the beginning of April.
No charges were brought against Chapman in the October incident, but baseball’s domestic violence policy allows Manfred to impose discipline regardless of whether a player is charged with or convicted of a crime. Players can challenge any penalties through arbitration, but that will not happen in this instance.
Earlier in spring training, Chapman, speaking Spanish through an interpreter, said: “I’ve never hurt anybody, never in my life. That’s not my character or who I am.” As a result, he said he would appeal any suspension.
But on Tuesday, after his punishment was announced, Chapman took an entirely different tone.
“Today, I accepted a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball resulting from my actions on October 30, 2015,” he said in a statement. “I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening. However, I should have exercised better judgment with respect to my actions, and for that I am sorry.
“The decision to accept a suspension, as opposed to appealing one, was made after careful consideration. I made this decision in an effort to minimize the distractions that an appeal would cause the Yankees, my new teammates and most importantly, my family. I have learned from this matter, and I look forward to being part of the Yankees’ quest for a 28th World Series title. Out of respect for my teammates and my family, I will have no further comment.”
Under the terms of the suspension, Chapman will be eligible to return to the major league roster on May 9, when the Yankees will be at home against the Kansas City Royals. Chapman will also forfeit $1.7 million of his 2016 salary.
In its own statement, the Major League Baseball Players Association said it and its members did not condone the mistreatment of others by playing or nonplaying personnel. “At the same time, the M.L.B.P.A. remains committed to protecting and ensuring the rights granted to players under the applicable provisions of the sport’s new Joint Policy on Domestic Violence. As such, the M.L.B.P.A. supports Mr. Chapman’s decision to forgo his right to an appeal.”
According to the police report of the incident, which occurred in Davie, Fla., Chapman fired the eight shots into a wall of his garage after an altercation in which he choked Barnea. She told police that at no point was she not able to breathe.
Chapman’s driver told the police that Chapman had fired the gun shortly after punching the window of his car and cutting his finger. Barnea, who told the police she had been hiding in bushes outside Chapman’s home at the time, was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when she heard shots.
The police report also said no one other than Chapman was in the garage when the shots were fired.
Even after the police chose not to press charges, Broward County prosecutors twice looked into doing so but declined both times because of conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence after Barnea and other witnesses refused to cooperate.
Chapman, who will become a free agent at the end of the season, was on the verge of being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early December when Yahoo disclosed the incident. The Dodgers backed out of the deal. The Boston Globe reported that the Boston Red Sox stopped their pursuit of Chapman weeks earlier after learning of the case.
When the Reds drastically cut the asking price for Chapman, the Yankees decided that the opportunity to acquire one of the game’s premier relievers was too good to pass up. On Dec. 28, they sent four midlevel prospects to the Reds for Chapman.
“Given the circumstances that exist, the price point on the acquisition has been modified,” General Manager Brian Cashman said then. “We felt this was an opportunity to add a big arm to our bullpen.”
The Yankees are equipped to withstand Chapman’s absence with Andrew Miller, who saved 36 games in 38 opportunities last season. Behind him is Dellin Betances, who has been an All-Star in his first two seasons in the big leagues.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/s...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
