Back on May 8, news broke that Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna had been arrested and charged with domestic violence in Toronto. Since then, Major League Baseball had Osuna on administrative leave while undergoing its own investigation. MLB has concluded its investigation and ruled that Osuna will serve a 75-game suspension, which is retroactive to May 8. MLB also announced that Osuna agreed to not appeal the decision. "My office has completed its investigation into the allegation that Roberto Osuna violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy on May 8, 2018," said commissioner Rob Manfred. "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 4." Manfred offered no further comment. The Blue Jays have issued a statement saying they respect the decision by the commissioner and also offered up no further comment on the pending legal matter. Though we don't have details on what transpired and led to Osuna's arrest, it's obviously an ugly situation. Osuna's suspension is one of the longest one doled out by Manfred under the Domestic Violence policy. Jose Torres got 100 games and Hector Olivera got 82. Osuna, 23, has a 2.87 ERA with 104 saves in his career (parts of four seasons). He was an All-Star last season. This year, he's giving up nearly half his pay for the 2018 season.<doc-sep>Share this Story: MLB slams door on Blue Jays closer Osuna with 75-game suspension MLB slams door on Blue Jays closer Osuna with 75-game suspension Article content ANAHEIM, Calif. — Apparently Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred didn’t feel he needed a judge or a jury to decide on the future of Roberto Osuna. So as the court proceedings surrounding an assault charge facing the Blue Jays closer drag out in Toronto, Manfred got ahead of the law on Friday, issuing a 75-game suspension to the 23-year-old Mexican-born star. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or MLB slams door on Blue Jays closer Osuna with 75-game suspension Back to video It is believed to be the third-longest suspension levied under MLB’s domestic violence policy, which was instituted in 2015. And it was the latest blow to the Jays, albeit a case with implications reaching far beyond the baseball diamond. “It’s been a big loss. In my opinion he’s one of the better ones out there,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said on Friday. “But there’s more important things than happen on the field … hopefully everybody gets the help they need.” The suspension – without pay – is back-dated to May 8, the day Osuna was arrested by Toronto police and charged with assault of a woman. He was immediately placed on administrative leave by MLB, a process that was extended five times until the suspension was handed out. It’s clear that there was a negotiation involved between Manfred’s office, Osuna and the MLB players’ association. In a statement, the commissioner said that Osuna “accepted” the suspension. He also waived the right for an appeal, no matter what happens with the court proceedings. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Statement from the Toronto Blue Jays regarding Roberto Osuna. A post shared by Toronto Blue Jays (@bluejays) on Jun 22, 2018 at 3:33pm PDT Both MLB and the Jays have been tight-lipped about the Osuna situation but Manfred acknowledged in a statement that it was active in its investigation of the case. There has been some suggestion that the commissioner’s office had contact with the alleged victim. “My office has completed its investigation into the allegation that Roberto Osuna violated (MLB’s) Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” Manfred’s statement read. “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.” The Jays, who have slid through the standings since Osuna was charged, issued a brief release on the suspension, saying it supports Manfred’s decision. Not that it had much choice. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “As this remains a legal matter, the club will have no further comment at this time,” the Jays statement reads. Osuna made his first court appearance earlier this week with his next date not until July 9. At this week’s proceeding, his lawyer said his client plead not guilty. There are many reasons for the Jays struggles this season but having one of their bonafide stars unavailable because of the charges is among them. Since the suspension, the Jays have struggled to a 15-23 record and fell a distant 17 games behind the American League East leading New York Yankees. Osuna appeared in 15 games for the Jays this season earning nine saves with an ERA of 2.93. Just a year ago, he was on the verge of being named to the American League all-star team. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Osuna will be eligible to rejoin the Jays on August 5 when the team is in Seattle to meet the Mariners. “I don’t have much reaction other than you take what MLB does and trust that and live with it,” Gibbons said. “Let everything go through its course.” NO SIGN OF DONALDSON If the Jays are planning to ship Josh Donaldson around the July 31 trade deadline – and indications are that is the case — a potential sales job is getting more difficult by the day. The injury-prone third baseman did not accompany the team to California, will not join them in Houston on Monday and Gibbons said he “hoped” the 2015 MVP will be available for a series against Detroit next weekend. Out with “calf tightness” Donaldson has been on the DL since May 29 and has missed 21 games, this after missing 18 earlier in the season. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content For his latest rehab assignment, Donaldson has been in Florida. He had hoped to return to the lineup last week but felt the calf couldn’t withstand the pain when he attempted sprinting drills at the Rogers Centre. While a genuine star in the league, it remains to be seen how wary potential buyers for the pending agent given he also spent a large portion of the 2017 season on the DL. NO FAMILY AFFAIR Barring the need for more roster shuffling on the weekend — and the way things tend to play out with this team, who could be surprised at that? — Jays rookie Lourdes Gurriel Jr. won’t get the opportunity for what promised to be an emotional reunion with his older brother Yuli in Houston. The siblings defected from Cuba together to build a baseball life in North America and Yuli got off to a rousing start as a member of the World Series champion Astros last season. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Lourdes, meanwhile, has shuffled between the Jays, double-A New Hampshire and triple A Buffalo. A home run (his third of the season) on Thursday wasn’t enough to keep the younger Gurriel around, however and the younger Gurriel was optioned back to the Bisons on Friday to make room for Steve Pearce. AROUND THE BASES Pearce, who was out for 43 games with an oblique strain was in left field for his return Friday night. He also batted at the top of Gibbons’ order which prompted this classic from the manager when asked why? “Well, we don’t have a leadoff hitter.” … The return of Sam Gaviglio from paternity leave required another move and Danny Barnes exited with what the team is claiming to be left knee tendinitis … The Jays aren’t doing anything with pitcher Aaron Sanchez – for now. Thursday’s starter, who left after just one inning of work with a bruised index finger, still hopes to make his next scheduled start. “It’s tender, we’ll see how it is over the next couple of days,” Gibbons said. Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Toronto SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of The Toronto Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>ANAHEIM, Calif. – In simple terms, Major League Baseball suspended Roberto Osuna for 75 games before the criminal proceedings against him reached resolution because its investigators dug up enough information that any court outcome would not have impacted the decision. Guilty or not under law, commissioner Rob Manfred ruled Friday that the Toronto Blue Jays closer is guilty of violating baseball’s joint domestic violence policy, demonstrating once again that a player doesn’t need to be convicted by the former to be the latter. The discipline, retroactive to May 8 when Osuna was arrested and charged in the assault of a woman, is the third longest handed down under the plan, trailing only the 100 games issued to Padres pitcher Jose Torres and 82 games given to former Braves outfielder Hector Olivera. In its wake, the Blue Jays gained some clarity into Osuna’s baseball future – his ban runs through Aug. 4, and under the collective bargaining agreement players suspended 51 games or more can be assigned to a minor-league team for 15 days during its duration. But the issue of whether it’s fair for leagues to act in an extrajudicial manner once again came up for debate, especially since Osuna had his first court hearing Monday, as the Crown gave his attorney Domenic Basile disclosure of its evidence. Basile said the 23-year-old intends to plea not guilty and he plans to meet with the Crown to seek a resolution to the case ahead of a July 9 hearing, and some privately questioned why Major League Baseball jumped the gun. Unfairly skewing the public perception of Osuna before the court ruled was another talking point. Important to understand is what Major League Baseball ruled Osuna to be guilty of under terms of the joint policy embedded in the collective bargaining agreement. Under the CBA, domestic violence “includes, but is not limited to, physical or sexual violence, emotional and/or psychological intimidation, verbal violence, stalking, economic control, harassment, physical intimidation, or injury.” Furthermore, “a single incident of abusive behavior in any intimate relationship, or a single incident of abusive behavior involving a female member of a player’s family who is domiciled with him, may subject a player to discipline under this Policy.” So, whatever happened in the early hours May 8 that led police to arrest Osuna, must have qualified. Now, Major League Baseball cannot simply suspend a player based on an arrest, as the policy states that it has “the burden of proving that the player committed a covered act.” That’s where the investigation part comes in and intriguingly, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported that league officials are believed to have spoken to the complainant. The policy allows players to challenge discipline and send the matter to an arbitration panel but Major League Baseball’s release stated that Osuna “accepted” the suspension, which wouldn’t have happened had he and the players association contested the decision. Osuna will also participate in a “confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board” that oversees the program. For all those reasons, whatever happens in court – Basile said Monday he’d be“working in a manner that I’m hoping to avoid a conviction,” while also factoring in potential work visa repercussions for the Mexico native – wouldn’t impact baseball’s decision-making. Now, whether the policy is fair and just is another discussion, and that would be up to the players to raise the next time the CBA, which runs through 2021, is up for discussion. Barring a change,“you take what MLB does, trust that and live with it,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “Let everything go through its course. You knew something was coming down. Hopefully that all gets worked out, both sides, and everybody gets the help they need and everything works out fine for all involved.” All of that, along with the criminal proceedings, are still to be settled. Beyond that, the bigger questions loom for the Blue Jays, such as whether Osuna should pitch for them again, how their fanbase would react to that, and if Toronto is the right place for him to get the second chance everyone deserves. For now, Major League Baseball’s judgment has been rendered.<doc-sep>
Major League Baseball has suspended Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna through Aug. 4 for violating the league's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. MLB announced the suspension — which is retroactive to May 8 and will cover a total of 75 games — in a release on Friday. The league says Osuna has agreed not to appeal the suspension and he will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the joint policy board of MLB and the players' association. Commissioner Manfred announced today that @BlueJays pitcher Roberto Osuna has accepted a suspension without pay through 8/4/18 for violating the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The unpaid suspension is retroactive to 5/8/18 and covers 75 games. pic.twitter.com/NettIJlCjw —@MLB_PR The 23-year-old Osuna is facing an assault charge and had been on paid administrative leave by MLB since being arrested last month. The Blue Jays said in a statement that they "support the decision by the Commissioner's Office." Statement from the Toronto Blue Jays regarding Roberto Osuna pic.twitter.com/Utmt48QSqL —@BlueJays Osuna appeared in 15 games (15 1/3 innings) for Toronto this season, allowing 16 hits, five runs and one walk while earning nine saves. He has not pitched since May 6, two days before he was put on administrative leave. He is 8-13 with a 2.87 earned-run average and 104 saves in his four-season career with the Blue Jays. 'Hopefully it all gets worked out' "I don't have much of a reaction other than you take what MLB does and trust that and live with that and let it go through its course," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Friday night's road game against the Los Angeles Angels. "We knew something was coming down. Actually, it took a while. Hopefully it all gets worked out on both sides and everyone gets the help they need and everything works out fine." Osuna's lawyer, Domenic Basile, said in court in Toronto Monday that Osuna intends to plead not guilty to the assault charge. Osuna's case is scheduled to return to court July 9. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was asked before Toronto's game against the Angels in Los Angeles Friday if knowing the length of the penalty helps the team. "I guess that helps," Gibbons said. "We've kind of moved past that anyway and made do with what we've had." Osuna will lose about $2.54 million US of his $5.3 million salary.