The criminal charges filed in Hawaii against Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes will be dropped, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher of the Associated Press reports. The domestic abuse trial that had been schedule for Opening Day will not go forward, per the prosecuting attorney, because Reyes’s wife — the alleged victim — was not willing to cooperate in the case.
Of course, the termination of criminal proceedings does not mean that Reyes will necessarily avoid discipline from the league under its domestic violence policy. Commissioner Rob Manfred recently handed Yankees hurler Aroldis Chapman a 30-game suspension despite the fact that — unlike Reyes — he was not arrested or charged in the incident in question. Chapman and the MLBPA also agreed not to appeal that ban, which some have suggested may have reduced its duration.
The charges stemmed from an incident on Halloween night last fall in which Reyes allegedly assaulted his wife in their hotel room. According to reports at the time, Reyes’s wife accused him at the time of grabbing her throat and pushing her into a sliding glass door. He was arrested as she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Reyes has already been placed on paid administrative leave by the league pending the outcome of his case. He did not appear in Spring Training with the Rockies as a result. Now, Manfred faces the difficult matter of investigating and reaching a resolution on the matter with the regular season set to open in less than a week.
The Rockies, who acquired Reyes in last summer’s Troy Tulowitzki deal, owe the veteran shortstop $48MM over the next two years, including a buyout of a 2018 club option. Colorado would stand to avoid paying a pro-rated portion of that for whatever length of time, if any, Reyes is unavailable due to suspension. The Rockies seem set to utilize prospect Trevor Story at shortstop in Reyes’s absence; needless to say, the future outlook for Reyes and the club remain unclear at this time.
He’s not a Yankee, how about a 5 game suspension?
It’ll be at least 50 games, more likely 100. This doesn’t really affect the suspension he will get. Why does it matter that he’s not a Yankee? Chapman is really the only case the commissioner has dealt with thus far. (I’m not counting Puig cause there wasn’t nearly enough evidence against him)
if Reyes does not appeal, why would the suspension be longer than chapmans?
Because charges were filed, and it was pretty clear he did something wrong. With Chapman there was no evidence that he harmed his girlfriend in any way.
Agreed, he’ll get 50, 80 or 100. Not a full season like previously indicated but MLB has pretty much stated they definitely want to make an example out of him moreso than Chapman or Puig.
The easiest answer is he was charged so there was good evidence. The second reason was the pictures. Just because charges were dropped doesn’t mean there wasn’t a crime.
There was an arrest and charges pressed. It’s obvious he broke the law, unlike in chapmans case where he likely broke it, it was just harder to prove
Reyes ended up in bracelets
Wasn’t there a video of puig fighting ?
There wasn’t evidence of domestic violence, which is what the particular policy covers.
It was a video on TMZ and they later reported it wasn’t Puig, so no, no video of it happening
Oh my god, is there seriously a Yankees fan who thinks MLB doesn’t play favorites with them 100% of the time? They are the most favored team in the game by far by MLB. Get out of here with that nonsense. Steinbrenner ruined free agency and baseball by overpaying for big name FAs and MLB let it happen and played favorites with every team that “buys big” since.
Steinbrenner didn’t “ruin” anything. If anyone is talking nonsense, it’s You.
+1
YES!!!!!!! Thank you!!!! The Yankees get away with just about anything. Anyone who thinks the Yankees are on the same playing surface as everyone else is in deep denial.
Anyone who thinks the Yankees “get away with anything” is a moron.
WOW!!!
He’ll probably get 50-75 games now.
Going to be interesting to see what Manfred does with this shot to make a major statement No prediction from me, but I’ll have my eye on it. 25, 50, 80, 100, 150, 162, 10? No clue, but I don’t think I will be shocked at any number, I am just looking forward to the explanation as to what gave him that number so I will know how to gauge it for the future..
I’ll be shocked at anything less then 80 but thinking it will be 100 or more
I’m guessing no longer than a month. I just see too many appeals, legal issues, etc. if it goes longer.
I’m guessing he’ll get at minimum 100games to potentially a full season….Charges being dropped b/c the victim refuses to cooperate doesn’t make him innocent…
Agreed! It will be interesting….
First, let me make this clear. In no way do I condone violence. None whatsoever. But the length of these suspension(s) are too much. I get the point of discipline. The league can’t, nor should they, ignore it. I just don’t think punishing player and team for that length for off the field issues that don’t effect the on field game is just. Please note once again, my view on the matter does not in any way mean I am downplaying the severity of violence. Simply stating my opinion on how the league handles these matters.
I disagree that the length is too much. The only way to punish a guy like Reyes so he learns his lesson is to take away his money. A 30 game suspension or something similar would barely cost him anything, money wise, but if he’s suspended for 80 games, that’s roughly $10.9 million that he isn’t going to get paid. Also, the Rockies would never come out and say it, but they probably wouldn’t feel punished at all if Reyes were suspended 80 games. In fact, they’d probably consider it a reward. That would save them close to $11 million that they could then spend on something else.
Victim not cooperating means nothing. 100 games minimum.
Obviously it doesn’t change the underlying facts, or the severity of the incident. But there are some notable practical impacts. Most importantly, it means that Reyes won’t a) miss time for trial; b) miss time for possible jail; c) face possible immigration consequences. Any or all of these things would’ve effectively landed on top of the suspension, which probably would’ve been effective only after he’d dealt with those matters.
Also, it may limit the information that’s available to Manfred and will have an impact on the public relations aspect of things — though, as you rightly note, that’s not really fair –and perhaps the union’s stance. A successful prosecution would’ve set the table for a lengthier suspension, I think, even given the same underlying facts.
In addition, just because the wife declined to return to Hawaii to testify in a criminal proceeding does not necessarily mean that she will not be interviewed by the commissioner. He can and will fact-find on his own.
Unfortunately, beyond basbeall, this likely takes deportation off the table.
Sending him back to the Dominican might have been a better punishment than say, 100 games to a season.
I’ll bet Reyes has played his last game. He’s no good anymore, he has this wife-beating issue…he’ll be suspended half this season.
If he is suspended for half a season, then what makes you think it will be his last game? You think the Rockies will just release him when he returns? Reyes will still be owed $22 million in 2017.
Yep. It’s a sunk cost and he’s not a good baseball player anymore – even a bad front office, like the Rockies, understands a sunk cost.
Their egos are fed every time they get away with something, they should have the book thrown at them by someone , if not by the judicial system then by MLB because it hurts the game.
1,000,000
Not to mention the message sent to children that see this and think that it is acceptable behavior or something that isn’t important so they in turn treat women as the objects they are portrayed to be at every turn in the media and mainstream television.
It’s unfortunate that the prosecution feels that it can’t continue.
Reyes’ Wife’s lawyer finally explained to her she is killing her own purse.