New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is awaiting potential suspension from Major League Baseball for his involvement in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.
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MLB Expected to Rule on Potential Suspension This Week
Monday, Feb. 29
MLB reportedly will decide if Chapman will be suspended this week, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
“This could be one of those (situations) where an appeal could be expedited,” MLBPA union chief Tony Clark told Jayson Stark of ESPN.com on Monday, speaking about Chapman’s hearing and potential appeal. He added, though, there was no concrete understanding in place between the union and the league.
Chapman, 28, already told Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media he would appeal any suspension by the league.
His teammate, Alex Rodriguez, spoke to reporters about the advice he would give Chapman in the event the talented reliever is suspended, per Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:
In October, Chapman’s girlfriend, Christina Barnea, claimed the pitcher choked and shoved her after a dispute over something Barnea had discovered on Chapman’s phone. Authorities also verified that Chapman had discharged a shotgun eight times in his garage after the dispute.
Barnea later recanted her claims of assault, however, and Chapman wasn’t charged with a crime for the incident.
The closer, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in December for minor leaguers Caleb Cotham, Rookie Davis, Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda, is expected to lock down the back end of a solid Yankees bullpen that also includes Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.
Chapman, who regularly hits 100 mph on his fastball, finished the 2015 season 4-4 with a 1.63 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, 33 saves and 116 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched. His addition could give the Yankees one of the best bullpens in all of baseball, with Betances, Miller and Chapman locking down the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
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