Reyes placed on paid leave pending criminal proceedings

Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes has been placed on paid leave by Major League Baseball pending completion of his domestic violence case in Hawaii.

Reyes was arrested on October 31 in a Hawaii hotel when he allegedly grabbed his wife’s throat, and pushed her into a sliding glass door during an argument. He was released after posting $1,000 bail and is scheduled for a trial starting April 4, the day the Rockies open the season at Arizona. The MLB veteran entered a not-guilty plea in November.

“I never hurt anybody, never in my life”, Chapman, who is not facing criminal charges, told reporters at the Yankees’ Spring Training facility in Florida.

Reyes, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Los Angeles Dodgers outfieler Yasiel Puig are all now being investigated under MLB’s new policy.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday that he expects to announce his ruling this week on the first cases involving MLB’s new domestic violence policy, and that might save at least one team from a situation it “doesn’t relish”. Discipline is not dependent on a criminal conviction.

In all cases, the policy says Manfred is allowed to suspend players with pay for seven days while the league investigates the matter.

Because Reyes was placed on paid leave, he is still set to earn his $22 million salary this season.

“We are closely monitoring the proceedings in Hawaii, as well as the commissioner’s actions”, the union said in a statement.

Barring any acquisitions, Colorado’s options at shortstop appear to be 29-year-old Daniel Descalso and 24-year-old Cristhian Adames.

PHILLIES: First baseman Ryan Howard said two offseasons of legal battles took their toll on him, but trying to focus on baseball helps escape the drama of fighting performance-enhancing drug allegations and family financial disputes.