Rockies’ Reyes Placed On Paid Leave

Major League Baseball on Tuesday placed Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes on paid leave while a criminal case into an alleged domestic violence incident in Hawaii continues, as well as baseball’s own investigation.

According to the release from the office of commissioner Rob Manfred, any discipline from the commissioner will come “upon resolution of Reyes’ criminal proceedings and the completion of the Commissioner’s Office’s investigation into the incident.”

Reyes was arrested in October after allegedly assaulting his wife in Hawaii.

TV station KHNL, an NBC affiliate, reported that the alleged incident took place on Halloween at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. Citing sources, the station reported that Reyes’ wife Katherine told police that Reyes grabbed her throat and shoved her into a glass balcony door.

Reyes was later released on bail. A trial is slated to begin April 4, the same day the Rockies open the regular season.

The domestic violence policy essentially created a board—which will include members of the commissioner’s office and the MLBPA—that will evaluate a player’s conduct and help determine punishment and treatment options, including counseling, psychological evaluations and other measures to protect a spouse or children, depending on the incident. A player who fails to comply with a plan may be subject to discipline by Manfred.

The policy allows for Manfred to place a player accused of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse on administrative leave—with pay—while the incident is investigated.

There is no minimum or maximum penalty, as set out by the policy, and punishment is not dependent on whether the player was convicted of a crime or pleaded guilty. The player can appeal before an arbitration panel, which will be comprised of a representative of each party and an independent arbitrator.

If a suspension arises from the punishment, the player would not be paid and would not accrue major league service time.

The team is not allowed to issue punishment to the player, unless the commissioner defers to the team, meaning the Rockies could not discipline Reyes without the commissioner’s approval.

Reyes was traded to Colorado in July as part of the deal that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto. Reyes is owed $48 million on a contract for 2016 and 2017 that includes a $4 million buyout if a $22 million option for 2018 isn’t picked up by the club he is playing for in 2017.