Jose Reyes arrest represents first test of new MLB domestic-violence policy

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Having been awakened in the middle of the previous night to be informed of the arrest of Jose Reyes for domestic abuse, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred could offer little beyond a prepared statement in a press conference at the general managers' meetings on Tuesday morning.

"Obviously, it's an issue of concern to us," he said.

The four-time All-Star shortstop was arrested on Oct. 31 after his wife told police officers that he had shoved her into a sliding-glass door leading out to a balcony, according to HawaiiNewsNow.com. She reported injuries to her thigh, neck and wrist and was taken to a local hospital.

In a statement released shortly before the commissioner met with reporters, Major League Baseball announced that the commissioner's office had begun an investigation in accordance with a domestic-violence policy negotiated with its players' association in August.

"Our fans want to know that the case has been dealt with appropriately," Manfred said. "On the other hand, whoever the player is, the fact that he's a major-league player doesn't mean he has absolutely no right to privacy and that everything that's going on in the context of a relationship or a marriage has to be public."

At a time when the National Football League is contending with the perception it has the mishandled domestic-violence cases of Ray Rice and Greg Hardy, the arrest of Reyes represents the first such incident for Major League Baseball since it adopted its new policy in August.

The collectively bargained policy permits the commissioner to place a player on paid leave for seven days in advance of a disciplinary decision, which then can be appealed to an independent arbitrator. There is no minimum or maximum penalty, and a suspension can be levied even before the charges are resolved.

Players are not paid during the Major League Baseball offseason, rendering moot the paid-leave portion of the procedure in the case of Reyes.

Much of the criticism of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has centered around the seemingly arbitrary punishments he has levied in the domestic-violence cases his league has encountered, something Manfred and Major League Baseball sought to avoid.

"The key, from our perspective, was being proactive and negotiating what we see as a comprehensive policy with the MLBPA so that everybody knows how the process is going to work and how we're going to move forward together," Manfred said. "This is not just a discipline policy. It is a policy that requires evaluation, counseling and a variety of other activities in addition to the disciplinary component. We felt good about the policy when we negotiated it. This will be the first test, and we think it will stand the test."