Major League Baseball players’ union announces domestic violence policy

A baseball player linked to domestic violence can be put on involuntary paid leave during an investigation and can be suspended even in the absence of a criminal conviction, under a policy announced Friday by Major League Baseball and its players’ union.

Almost one year after then-Commissioner Bud Selig vowed to create a comprehensive policy in the wake of the NFL’s fumbling of the Ray Rice episode, new commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark released details of an agreement that aims to “reflect the gravity and the sensitivities of these significant societal issues”, Manfred said in a statement.

There is no minimum or maximum penalty under the policy and the Commissioner can hand out the punishment he believes is appropriate.

A new Joint Policy Board, which will include representatives of Major League Baseball and the union alongside experts in domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, will develop a treatment plan for players and evaluate and supervise them once they are subject to it. The policy board could require players to heed court orders and limit interaction with their partners. The Commissioner’s Office and the MLBPA will also implement an all-encompassing domestic abuse policy for its staff. Consistent with the parties’ collective bargaining agreement, the player and the Players Association shall cooperate in the investigation, including making the player available for an interview. The Panel may consider evidence of both aggravating and mitigating factors concerning the Player’s alleged actions when relevant and appropriate. The commissioner’s authority to impose a suspension is “not dependent on whether the player is convicted or pleads guilty to a crime”. We’re on record as saying this stuff is well beyond the ability of pro sports leagues to properly address, and that any attempt to preempt the legal system is about concern with optics instead of justice. Players will not receive service time for the period of the suspension. The board will be comprised of three domestic violence, sexual assault and/or child abuse experts, in addition to two representatives each from the league and MLBPA.

All players will be provided education in English and Spanish about domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse at regular intervals.