The Colorado Rockies have a young shortstop in Trevor Story that’s setting Coors Field on fire thus far this season.
They also have a $24 million headache behind Story on the depth chart.
That headache comes in the form of veteran Jose Reyes, who is on paid leave while Major League Baseball investigates an alleged domestic violence incident between Reyes and his wife.
While Reyes wasn’t charged in the alleged incident, the powers to be within the baseball world won’t take that into account. In reality, he’s facing a stiff penalty under the domestic violence policy.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman is now reporting that Reyes’ imminent suspension, likely to be announced this week, will be a minimum of 60 games:
“Jose Reyes should hear his penalty from MLB for domestic abuse soon, and word is that it’ll be at least 60 games and perhaps significantly longer than that,” the report read. “Eighty games, or about a half a season, may be a fair ballpark estimate, according to some.”
A lack of charges isn’t an issue here for commissioner Rob Manfred and Co.
Unfortunately, Reyes’ wife, Katherine, didn’t cooperate with police or Major League Baseball after employees at a Maui hotel reported she had injuries to her neck, wrist and thigh.
The lengthy suspension is expected to be more severe than the 30-game ban New York Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman received under the same domestic violence policy to start the 2016 season. According to Heyman, the reason behind this is clear. Reyes’ incident is said to be more serious than the one Chapman was involved in.
Reyes’ suspension will be unpaid. This means that if he is suspended 80 games, he will forfeit $11 million of his salary this season.
Though, Reyes remains under contract with the Rockies for the 2017 season at $22 million. Unless he’s suspended for two seasons, Colorado will have to dole that cash out to a player that’s not going to be a regular starter moving forward.