Since allegedly assaulting his wife last Halloween during a Hawaiian vacation, Jose Reyes‘ future has been one of the MLB’s biggest question marks. With Reyes’ set to go to trial on April 4, the same day as the Rockies’ season opener, commissioner Rob Manfred was left with a decision to make, as the league’s new domestic violence policy starts and stops at his office.
And it’s a big decision, not just for Reyes but for Manfred, too. Being that it’s one of the first cases under the MLB’s new domestic-violence policy, it could set a strong precedent going forward.
Unfortunately, the magnitude of the ruling has forced the league to take it’s time, leaving the Rockies in limbo. As general manager Jeff Bridich told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, the Rockies have been left in the dark.
“The whole thing, soup to nuts, the whole thing, is held underneath this policy,” Bridich said. “That’s why I am saying that any communication or contact to this point (with Reyes) has been limited, because we are beholden to this policy, which is all-encompassing.”
On Tuesday, though, the Rockies got a ruling — for now.
Commissioner Manfred announces Jose Reyes has been placed on paid leave pending completion of criminal proceedings: pic.twitter.com/H2qGt2tIc2
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) February 23, 2016
On one hand, this allows the Rockies to move forward without Reyes. On the other, it raises even more questions.
Will the league wait to begin their own investigation until after the criminal investigation is complete? If the league’s investigation isn’t completed by the end of Reyes’ trial, will he be allowed to play until a ruling is made? At what point could Reyes’ paid leave turn into unpaid leave?
For now, though, the important thing for the Rockies is to move forward as if Jose Reyes won’t be a part of the team.
