Astros traded ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for wins
The most stunning trade development before Tuesday’s deadline had nothing to do with why Manny Machado and Chris Archer were moved or why Bryce Harper and Madison Bumgarner weren’t.
It was, what were the Astros thinking?
In July, 20 big-league relievers changed teams, and many more available relievers stayed put. The Astros had their choice of several closers and picked Roberto Osuna, who’s serving a 75-game domesticviolence suspension.
Last year, the Astros were a likable, enthusiastic, close bunch. The Astros paraded to their first World Series title amid the celebratory images of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Co., and now they have someone who was arrested and charged with assaulting a woman.
Osuna’s case is in court, but Major League Baseball found enough evidence to hand him the second-longest suspension since MLB and the players’ union devised a joint domesticviolence policy.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow acquired Osuna while standing by the team’s zerotolerance policy related to abuse, which is laughable. Apparently, zero tolerance is applicable except when a player is very good, which is the case for Osuna, a 2017 All-Star who’s 23.
Osuna’s suspension ends this weekend, and he’ll step into the closer’s role and will be eligible for the playoffs, which is nonsense and a luxury not afforded to those who served suspensions for performanceenhancing drugs.
The Astros aren’t alone in expressing interest or acquiring players who were suspended for violating the policy, some more egregious than others.
Giants GM Bobby Evans met with the agent for Aroldis Chapman before the Mark Melancon signing. Chapman had served a 30-game suspension for allegedly choking his girlfriend and firing gunshots in a garage.
The A’s acquired reliever Jeurys Familia from the Mets on July 21. Familia was suspended 15 games for an incident in which his wife had a bruised cheek and scratch on her chest. Baseball didn’t find evidence to determine that he physically assaulted her or threatened her with physical force, but it suspended him because of inappropriate overall conduct.
GM David Forst said the A’s examined the details and considered the team’s conversations with Mets and MLB personnel and Familia’s “extensive counseling” before making the trade.
Details of Osuna’s assault weren’t publicly released to protect the victim’s identity but are believed to be far more severe than Chapman’s or Familia’s. Osuna’s next court date is Sept. 5, right in the heat of the postseason race, which was a more important factor than so-called zero tolerance.