MLB puts Rockies’ Jose Reyes on leave
Rockies shortstop Jose Reye adjusts his batting helmet before a game against the Nationals on Aug. 7.
Jose Reyes was put on paid leave Tuesday, keeping the Colorado Rockies shortstop away from his team until domestic violence charges against him are resolved.
Reyes is set to face trial April 4 -- the day the Rockies open their season -- on charges of “abuse of a family and/or household member,†according to the Maui Police Dept. Reyes’ wife allegedly suffered injuries to her face, neck and leg in a dispute with her husband in October.
A plea bargain could allow Reyes to resolve the case before the trial date.
Whatever suspension Reyes might face would be deferred until the criminal proceedings are completed. In a statement, Major League Baseball said Commissioner Rob Manfred would withhold any discipline until the court case is over and the league has completed its own investigation.
The Major League Baseball Players Assn. said in a statement that it would work with Reyes to protect his rights “if further discipline is issued, or if Mr. Reyes’ paid suspension is not resolved in a timely fashion.â€
Manfred has yet to rule on the league’s other two domestic violence investigations, involving Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman. Charges were not filed against either of those players.
The incidents spurring all three investigations occurred in the off-season. The Reyes situation underscores how difficult it will be for the league to complete a timely investigation of an in-season allegation of domestic violence. The policy, adopted last year, calls for a player to be put on a maximum of seven days of paid leave during the season so an investigation can be done.
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
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