Toronto Blue Jays suspend Yunel Escobar for displaying gay slur September 18, 2012, 6:18 p.m. Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Blue Jays for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during a game last weekend against Boston. Escobar's lost salary during the ban - about $82,000 - will be directed to two advocacy groups, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and You Can Play, and he will be required to attend sensitivity training. Escobar apologized to his team and "to all those who have been offended" for what he said was meant to be "just a joke." "I don't have anything against homosexuals," Escobar said, adding he didn't mean for the term to be "misinterpreted" by the gay community. Escobar said he wrote the message 10 minutes before Saturday's home game. He insisted the word is often used within teams and by Latinos and said, "I didn't see it as something bad at the time." Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is expected to remain out of the starting lineup until Friday because of a strained muscle in his side. Marlins Manager Ozzie Guillen said he expects to be back next season but understands why some are questioning his return because of the Marlins' last-place performance.