MLB suspends Odubel Herrera of the Phillies for 85 games

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Saturday, July 6, 2019
MLB suspends Odubel Herrera of the Phillies for 85 games
MLB suspends Odubel Herrera of the Phillies for 85 games. Sharrie Williams reports during Action News at 10 p.m. on July 5, 2019.

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odúbel Herrera has accepted a suspension for the rest of the season under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.

The commissioner's office announced his decision Friday, two days after domestic assault charges against Herrera in Atlantic City, New Jersey, were dismissed.

He had been charged with simple assault and knowingly causing bodily injury stemming from an incident on May 27 at the Golden Nugget Casino.

The woman, his girlfriend, declined to press charges.

Herrera accepted a suspension that would include any postseason games. The unpaid suspension is retroactive to June 24 and covers 85 games.

He will lose $2,634,409 of his $5 million salary, the amount due over the final 98 days of the 186-day regular season.

He is in the third year of a $30.5 million, five-year contract and is due to make $7 million next season and $10 million in 2021. Philadelphia has club options for 2022 and '23.

An All-Star center fielder in 2016, Herrera hit .222 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 39 games this season. He missed time in April with a hamstring injury.

Commissioner Manfred issued the following statement regarding the discipline:


"My office has completed its investigation into the allegations that Odúbel Herrera violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Herrera violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover the remainder of the 2019 season."