MLB suspends #BlueJays closer Roberto Osuna for 75 games without pay, retroactive to arrest date of May 8. He's out through Aug. 4.
Roberto Osuna suspended for 75 games
Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The hammer was dropped. According to Shi Davidi, Major League Baseball has suspended Roberto Osuna for 75 games for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, and Child Abuse Policy. Osuna will not appeal the suspension.
#BlueJays statement on Roberto Osuna discipline: "The Toronto Blue Jays support the decision by the Commissioner’s Office to suspend Roberto Osuna. As this remains a legal matter, the club will have no further comment at this time."
Commissioner Rob Manfred in statement: "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Osuna violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will expire on August 4th.” #BlueJays
Full statement from the #BlueJays on Roberto Osuna, who was just suspended for 75 games by Major League Baseball.
The league was given permission to evaluate the information in Osuna’s case and they interviewed the alleged victim to ultimately come to their conclusion. This is the third-longest suspension ever handed out by MLB under their new program, meaning the league is clearly starting to take this kind of stuff more seriously.
I said when I originally reported on this when Osuna was arrested that the Blue Jays can’t continue to employ Osuna. The organization will certainly wait out Osuna’s case to make a decision as to how they’ll move forward, but given MLB’s decision, it’s abundantly clear what’s gone on here. I have a feeling we won’t be seeing Osuna pitch for the Blue Jays again.
That would be the right decision. I’ll echo what I said the first time around, which is that it’s much more important for the Blue Jays to stand for what’s right and wrong than it is to have a lock-down closer that helps the team win games. And no, I’m not interested in “it was just a mistake!” This is a very severe issue that shouldn’t be trivialized as a mistake. I have no interest in cheering for a team that employs a domestic abuser.
I don’t want to turn this into some kind of lecture because that isn’t my place on a site like this. That said, if you disagree with my above point, take a moment to put yourself in the shoes of somebody else. Imagine being somebody who doesn’t exist in the same position of power as you do. Imagine being somebody who has experienced abuse in the past trying to enjoy a baseball game knowing a player on the team did this and, ultimately, was able to just carry on a few months later. Try to understand the position of power you get to operate under and empathize the fear that others have to live with on a day to day basis.
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