Colorado’s Experience With Reyes Could Make MLB, Atlanta Braves Argue for Changes
The New Math
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Domestic Abuse cases have certainly hit the spotlight in recent years. There has been uproars about several such cases in the NFL, with athletes getting odd punishments from the league and then returning to play with seemingly no lasting stigma.
Last Summer, MLB and the players’ union came together to hammer out an agreement on how to avoid these issues in baseball. For domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse, they agreed on the means of handling such situations in a manner “that reflects the gravity and the sensitivities of these significant societal issues.”
Except it doesn’t quite go far enough.
Yesterday, it was announced the Jose Reyes was designated for assignment immediately after being reinstated from the Restricted List. Reyes had been suspended for 52 games, which did cost him $7.09 million dollars of that $48 million still guaranteed starting this season.
So Reyes will still walk away from baseball – since nobody will hire him now – with $41 million.
But aside from that, there’s an innocent victim here: I’m not referring to Reyes’ wife, who clearly helped Reyes get out from under the arrest charges by failing to cooperate with the investigation. She’s chosen her allegiance in this matter, for better or worse. That’s her call, but it would seem to taint her role somewhat.
No – the victim I’m referring to is the Colorado Rockies National League Baseball Club.
The Rockies are a victim because they end up losing $41 million – a huge check to write – and getting nothing for it. Yeah, there’s Trevor Story and his early-season heroics in Reyes’ stead, but somehow… despite the punishment/suspension/release… it seems that the bad guy still was rewarded in the end.
The Rockies, based on all of the history of dealings between the players’ union and the MLB owners, are not permitted to simply terminate the contract of Reyes. That despite clauses that suggest they might be allowed to do so. If he had committed a felony, then things might be different. But for misdemeanors or less (charges were dropped in this case, thanks to Mrs. Reyes), that won’t happen.
That needs to change, and the players’ union needs to support this change in last Summer’s agreement.
The Braves’ Angle
By now you’ve figured out where I’m going here. Atlanta has a similar situation on its hands… and a big check that they probably will have to write to Hector Olivera. Same book, different chapter.
Atlanta could run the clock out on this season without making Olivera eligible to return to the majors. They can still try to rehab his image. They might still try to make him a useful baseball player… and person.
I’m not sure we know enough yet about his particular crime to judge whether they should try. But I do know what I’d advocate if I were Terry McGuirk, John Hart, or John Schuerholz.
The MLB/Players Association’s Collective Bargaining Agreement is up for re-negotiations this Fall. It would be appropriate to put more teeth into the Domestic Abuse agreement by allowing teams to terminate the contract of any player suspended under the auspices of this policy.
There is no reason to punish a baseball team for the sins of a single player. Payouts like Reyes will be getting, and what Olivera may ultimately get (he is due $28.5 million after this season) are needed by the team to replace those players… teams should not be burned as an effective payoff to the bad guy for bad behavior. On top of that, maybe such a change would be an extra incentive to stay clean.
Not a Completely Ideal Solution, But Needed
Yes, it is effectively a permanent suspension for the player. It effectively bars him from his chosen profession (which seems to be the trend anyway) and takes away his ability to directly earn a living in.
That said, I could also argue that domestic abuse is an epidemic in our society, and high-visibility ‘celebrities’ need to be on the leading cusp of solving this. Also, there are other ways that people make a living… every day. Those who leave prison sentences must do so as well… and this situation isn’t too far afield from that metaphor.
More importantly, though: this proposal protects the teams from bad actors and doesn’t make them into collateral damage.
Next: Can't Beat Fun at the Old Ballyard
The Rockies are learning this the hard way. The Braves are next up on the clock. But in the meantime, baseball has a chance – an obligation, in my view – to change that.