Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero suspended rest of season for domestic violence
Yankees right-hander Jimmy Cordero was banned for the rest of the season for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Wednesday.
The ban, which was accepted by Cordero, will keep him out for the final 76 regular-season games as well as the postseason.
“When things like this that are about as serious as it gets come up, there’s a heavy price to be paid,” Aaron Boone said. “And certainly I support that, I know the organization supports that. And hopefully now it turns to genuine healing.”
The 31-year-old Cordero appeared in 31 games with the Yankees this year and had a WHIP of 1.07 in 32 ²/₃ innings.
Boone said the organization was aware of the investigation for about a week and that Cordero came to him and told him of the situation earlier in the week.
The manager called the conversation “a little vague and all over [the place]. Just that an investigation was going on.”
Boone said he found out about Cordero’s suspension following the Yankees�� game Tuesday.
The pitcher told some teammates — including captain Aaron Judge — before the news of the suspension became public.
“We’re obviously upset,’’ Judge said. “I’m happy the league is doing things to control this, with suspensions. … I know a lot of guys on this team are upset.”
Due to the league’s policy, teams are not made aware of the details of the incidents leading to suspensions, unless the team is involved.
“My biggest thing right now is having a feeling for the situation and hoping and praying something good comes out of this,” Boone said. “That there’s maturity, learning [and] healing in whatever is going on. Baseball, we’ll deal with that. This is real life and a much more serious situation.”
Boone addressed much of the team about the situation hours prior to their game Wednesday against the Orioles at the Stadium.
“The Yankees are fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action applied to Jimmy Cordero,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
Cordero signed a minor league deal with the Yankees prior to the 2022 season and spent last year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He had become a solid piece in a bullpen that has been among the best in the majors. He last pitched on Sunday in St. Louis and was active through the game Tuesday. His spot on the roster was filled by the starter Wednesday’s starter, Randy Vasquez. Cordero, who has a $720,000 salary, will not be paid during the ban.
Asked if he would “welcome” Cordero back to the team once the suspension is over, Judge said, “I think that’s a ways away. I’m not sure. I’ll have a better answer for you when the season’s over.”
Cordero is the latest Yankee to be suspended under the league’s domestic violence protocol.
Domingo German, who tossed the fourth perfect game in franchise history last week in Oakland, served an 81-game suspension stemming from a domestic violence incident in 2019 that caused him to miss the end of that season, as well as 2020.
The Yankees also traded with the Reds for Aroldis Chapman while he was being investigated under the same policy, and the closer served a 30-game suspension in 2016.
As for Cordero, Judge said: “I’ve got his family on my mind. Hopefully he learns and can use resources to get help.”
