ANAHEIM -- Blue Jays reliever Roberto Osuna has been issued a 75-game suspension without pay that will run through Aug. 4 for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement late Friday afternoon. The suspension is retroactive to May 8, which is when Osuna was placed on administrative leave after he was charged with assault in Toronto. Osuna has agreed not to appeal the disciplinary action.
The Blue Jays issued a statement saying they "support the decision by the Commissioner's Office" to suspend Osuna and that the club will not be making any further comments at this time. Per the terms in MLB's policy, Osuna will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board.
"My office has completed its investigation into the allegation that Roberto Osuna violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy on May 8, 2018," Manfred said in a statement. "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Osuna violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will expire on August 4th."
Osuna has been away from the Blue Jays since he was charged with assault. On Monday, his lawyer, Domenic Basile, was in a Toronto courtroom for a brief preliminary hearing, and a judge later adjourned his case until July 9. Basile said his client intended to plead not guilty and that he would be meeting with the crown attorney to discuss how the next couple of weeks will unfold.
According to Basile, Osuna has been working out in Florida while he has been away on an administrative leave. Osuna was released on bail shortly after his arrest in May, and as part of the bail conditions he was ordered to abstain from communicating directly or indirectly with the alleged victim.
"You take what MLB does, trust that and live with it," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Let everything go through its course. You knew something was coming down. ... Hopefully that all gets worked out, both sides, and everybody gets the help they need and everything works out fine for all involved."