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NEW YORK – Yankees reliever Jimmy Cordero accepted a suspension for the remainder of the 2023 regular season and postseason due to violation of MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence policy.
“It definitely came as a surprise to a lot of us,’’ Yankees captain Aaron Judge said Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the league’s announcement.
“I’m hoping he can get some help, and his family can get some help,’’ Judge said. “I’ve got his family on my mind.’’
On the eve of his suspension, Cordero spoke personally with Judge and several other teammates following the Yankees’ 8-4 win Tuesday afternoon over the Baltimore Orioles.
“He kind of just filled me in on what’s going to happen,” said Judge, adding that “a lot of the guys on the team are upset.”
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Cordero had also approached Aaron Boone a few days prior, telling the manager of MLB’s investigation.
Details of that inquiry were not provided by MLB or the Yankees, who were not involved with the league’s probe.
Regarding their last conversation, “I don’t want to get into too many details,’’ said Boone, though he characterized it as “a little vague and all over,’’ and that Cordero explained “that an investigation was going on, essentially.’’
MLB statement, Yankees’ statement
According to MLB’s statement, Cordero “will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board.’’
In a statement released by the club, the Yankees said they were “fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action applied to Cordero.
“There is no justification for domestic violence, and we stand with the objectives, standards and enforcement of MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.’’
Inside the Yankees clubhouse, Cordero’s locker was cleaned out, and his name plate had been removed.
Whether, or how, he might be accepted back in 2024 was an uncertainty. “I think that’s a ways away,’’ said Judge.
In September 2019, Yankees pitcher Domingo German was placed on administrative leave by the commissioner’s office. In January 2020 he accepted an 81-game suspension for violating the Joint Domestic Violence policy.
German served 18 games of that ban during the 2019 season.
Early during spring training of 2021, German met with players at length, in two groups, after Zack Britton and other teammates expressed the need for German to address the club.
Before making his Yankees debut in 2016, closer Aroldis Chapman accepted a 30-game MLB suspension following an incident of domestic violence.
Chapman had carried the looming possibility of a lengthy suspension when he was acquired by the Yankees via trade from the Cincinnati Reds following the 2015 season.
‘Sad situation’
MLB and the Players Association have since agreed on tougher penalties. As a team, the subject of domestic violence is addressed among the Yankees’ awareness tutorials in spring training.
“It’s a sad situation,’’ said Judge, adding he’s “just thinking about Cordero’s family, his wife and kids. It’s a tough situation you don’t want to see anybody go through.
“There’s still a lot of unknown, you really don’t know what happened, what the incident is,’’ said Judge. “Hopefully, he’ll learn from this and becomes a better person on the other side.’’
Cordero, 31, was signed by the Yankees in December 2021 and was added to the 40-man roster last November. He previously pitched in the majors with the Nationals, Blue Jays and White Sox.
This season, Cordero made the Yankees out of spring training and pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 31 appearances.
Cordero last appeared in a game on Sunday, yielding three runs in two innings of relief at St. Louis, in a 5-1 loss to the Cardinals.
As it impacts the Yankees on the field, their bullpen has been a signature strength all season, made stronger by Tommy Kahnle’s activation from the injured list (biceps tendinitis) last month.
Right-hander Randy Vasquez was called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and started Wednesday night’s game against Baltimore.
“My biggest thing right now is… hoping and praying something good comes out of this, Boone said of Cordero’s situation, “that there’s maturity, that’s there’s growth, that there’s healing in whatever is going on.”
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