A recently reported deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds that would have sent Aroldis Chapman to Los Angeles in return for “multiple prospects” is now in limbo.
Multiple reports came out Monday morning citing that the trade was pending a review of Chapman’s medical records. However, a news article published Monday evening by Yahoo Sports cited a Florida police report stating that Chapman was involved a “domestic incident” in October, in which he reportedly choked his girlfriend and fired off a gun several times.
Per the police report, summarized by Yahoo Sports, Aroldis Chapman was not arrested, and charges were not filed due to conflicting stories, lack of cooperation of witnesses involved, and no sign of physical injury to Chapman’s girlfriend. Additionally, it was noted in the Yahoo story that the disturbance was the second in less in a month involving Chapman and his girlfriend.
Per a new policy negotiated by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Commissioner’s Office has the right to initiate an investigation if a player is involved any sort of domestic dispute, whether they are charged criminally or not.
In addition to the investigation, players are also subject to the following:
“Players may be required to submit to psychological evaluations, attend counseling sessions, comply with court orders (including child support orders), relocate from a home shared with his partner, limit his interactions with his partner, relinquish all weapons, and other reasonable directives designed to promote the safety of the player’s partner, children, or victims.
Players who fail to comply are subject to discipline from the Commissioner. All information is to be kept confidential.”
Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre announced Tuesday morning that an investigation regarding Chapman’s incident is now underway, and that Monday was the first time the Commissioner’s Office had heard about the incident. Under the agreement, MLB can place a player on paid administrative leave for up to seven days while the player is investigated. However, Torre conceded that it could take “several days’ for MLB to gather facts and decide how to proceed.
Torre, recently quoted in the L.A. Times, said, “We want to make sure we have all the information and then the decision will be made. The only timetable is when we feel we’ve got as much information as we can get.”
If Aroldis Chapman is handed down discipline by the Commissioner’s Office, he’ll have the right to appeal.
With MLB already dealing with another incident involving Jose Reyes, and another by Yasiel Puig, the sports world will be keeping a watchful eye on what MLB ultimately concludes and decides to act upon. All three incidents will be Major League Baseball’s first couple of opportunities to set a precedent under the new domestic violence policy. It will also give MLB a chance to show it can succeed where other professional sports leagues may have failed.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds will have to wait as well. The fate of any potential trade involving Chapman now certainly hinges upon the result of the Commissioner’s investigation and whatever discipline Aroldis Chapman would face, if it indeed comes to that. Ultimately, the Dodgers, who are already dealing with Yasiel Puig ‘s situation, will likely back off the trade.
It’s likely that the Reds will be stuck with Chapman until he hits free agency in 2016.
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