Bruce Maxwell Reaches Plea Agreement

The Athletics announced on Friday that backup catcher Bruce Maxwell has reached a plea agreement with the State of Arizona, pleading guilty to disorderly conduct (a class 6 undesignated offense). He’ll be placed on probation and be required to complete community service, with a formal sentencing set for June 4. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that it’s possible Major League Baseball could still impose further punishment on Maxwell, as the Commissioner’s Office prefers to wait for criminal proceedings to conclude before passing its own judgment.

“Accepting responsibility is the first step in working to make amends for my lapse in judgment,” said Maxwell in a statement. “I am truly sorry for the pain that my actions have caused, and while they are not representative of who I am, I understand that I have to earn back the trust and respect of those around me.”

Maxwell was arrested back on Oct. 28 and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after waving a gun at a delivery person at his home in Scottsdale. He’d been slated for an Aug. 9 trial if today’s settlement meeting — his second such meeting — did not yield a plea agreement.

Oakland general manager David Forst voiced a commitment to Maxwell this offseason even in the face of the charges brought forth against him, though the Athletics ultimately found a value on which they didn’t feel they could pass, signing Jonathan Lucroy to a one-year deal worth $6.5MM. That acquisition pushed Maxwell into a more limited role with the club, though Forst again spoke of Maxwell as a potential long-term member of the A’s organization today.

“I am pleased Bruce has taken responsibility for his actions,” said Forst in the press release announcing the agreement. “We expect our players to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the standards of the Oakland Athletics. His conduct in this incident did not live up to that. We have communicated with him throughout the legal process about our expectations as a representative of the organization. I believe he has already begun the work of making amends for his actions and look forward to his continued positive contributions to our community.”