Yankees player suspended for season under domestic violence policy latest in troubling trend

Multiple reports are beginning to circle social media that Jimmy Cordero of the New York Yankees has been suspended for the remainder of the season after violating MLB's domestic violence policy.

Founded in August of 2015, the domestic violence policy falls under the much more broad Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy implemented by Major League Baseball.

This is a disturbing trend for the Yankees, as this is the third player on their roster suspended under such circumstances dating back to March of 2016. At that time, it was Aroldis Chapman who was handed a 30-game suspension. Fortunately, since then the punishments have generally been much, much longer, and deservedly so.

In January of 2020, another pitcher on the Blue Jays' arch rival's squad, Domingo Germán, was suspended for half a year, 81 games, for violating the same policy. Cordero, 31, appears to be receiving a similar suspension as the 2023 MLB season is right around the halfway point. He will be placed on the restricted list and will not be paid (or count as a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster) for the entirety of his suspension.

This is an issue that is bigger than baseball and it doesn't matter whether Cordero was performing well or not for the Yankees. He is under contract with the club until the conclusion of the 2026 season but if the Yanks have learned anything over the years, it's that people like this should not be kept around. It's a wonder that Germán, who just recently threw a perfect game, was kept around, but for an aging journeyman like Cordero, this should mark the end of the line for him in a Yankees uniform if their front office has any sense.

In the past, the Blue Jays themselves have had a pitcher earn a suspension for violating the domestic violence act as well in Roberto Osuna. Just a short while later, the Jays traded him away to the Astros and, frankly, could not get out from under him and his contract fast enough.

After today's news broke, the Yankees gave a statement.

"The Yankees are fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action applied to Jimmy 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."