Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes is reportedly expected to learn his punishment soon after facing domestic violence allegations from October, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Heyman noted the suspension is expected to be at least 60 games, but it may end up being closer to 80 games, “or about a half a season.”
Reyes was arrested in Maui on Oct. 31 after reportedly getting into a physical altercation with his wife in the hotel room they were staying at. Chelsea Davis of Hawaii News Now reported Reyes grabbed his wife by the throat and shoved her into a sliding glass door.
While the former All-Star wasn’t criminally charged, Heyman reported MLB is expected to hand down a ban in the next few days and sees the incident in Maui as more serious than the alleged domestic violence incident involving New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in December:
Reyes’ offense has been seen as more serious, as hotel workers at their Maui hotel reported that Reyes’ wife Katherine suffered injuries to her neck, wrist and thigh. Katherine did not cooperate with police, leading to charges being dropped. Nor has she cooperated with MLB.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has authority to impose bans for domestic abuse stemming from the policy done jointly with the players’ union.
Reyes’ ban is expected to be announced in coming days. It isn’t known whether MLB and the union have agreed on a specific length, or if Manfred might impose a penalty and let the union decide whether to challenge the length. Reyes and the union could grieve any ban imposed by Manfred, though in the case of Chapman, 30 games was agreed upon.
The Rockies are Reyes’ third team since he signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Miami Marlins in December 2011. Miami sent him to the Toronto Blue Jays in November 2012, and then the Blue Jays shipped him to Colorado last year in the trade centered around All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Colorado has been able to withstand Reyes’ absence with the emergence of rookie shortstop Trevor Story. The 23-year-old shortstop is batting .272 and has hit 11 home runs so far for the near-.500 Rockies.
Even if Reyes is out for a lengthy period of time, Colorado has its shortstop of the future. If the Rockies don’t move Reyes, they’ll still have to pay the remainder of his contract, which includes $22 million in 2017.
While voiding contracts isn’t a normal occurrence, there have been instances where teams have gotten financial relief in return. That could be something to keep an eye on with Reyes and the Rockies.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com