Rob Manfred and MLB's Domestic Violence Joint Policy Board have suspended Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes through May 31 for his role in a domestic violence incident last October in Hawaii, the league announced in a press release. Reyes will be eligible to return to the Rockies on June 1.
Under the policy, Reyes is allowed to receive credit for the time that he was on paid administrative leave and has chosen that option. In order to receive that credit, though, he must forfeit the salary that he was paid while on administrative leave.
The suspension is retroactive to Feb. 23. Reyes has already missed 34 games while on leave; in all, his suspension will amount to 52 games (51 physically, but he'll be docked 52 games worth of pay due to the rained out game against the Pirates on April 28). The 32-year-old veteran is able to play in extended spring training games until May 31, after which he'll begin a minor league rehab assignment, per Fox Sports' Jon Morosi.
Reyes is the second player to have been suspended under MLB's new domestic violence policy. New York Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman was suspended for the first 30 games of this season for an altercation that also occurred this past offseason. His suspension was reduced because of his cooperation with MLB. In a press release, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that Reyes "cooperated fully" with the investigation. Additionally, the release indicated that Reyes has agreed to donate $100,000 "to one or more charitable organizations focused on preventing and treating survivors of domestic abuse."
The criminal charges against Reyes were dropped before the season started by the prosecutor after Reyes' wife refused to testify against her husband. However, conviction or even prosecution of a domestic violence incident is not necessary for a suspension under the new collectively bargained domestic violence policy as was already demonstrated with Chapman's suspension.
Because Reyes was on the restricted list as part of his paid administrative leave while waiting for this decision, Reyes' unpaid suspension will have no effect on the Rockies current active or 40-man roster. His suspension will cost him roughly $7 million in earnings this season.
Now that MLB has finally issued the suspension, the Rockies have all of the facts needed to help decide Reyes' future with the Rockies. The club may try to negotiate a buyout for the rest of Reyes' contract, release him, or, as was reported earlier today, try trade him -- which may be the most difficult task.