FAMILIA CHARGES DROPPED, LENGTHY BAN LIKELY
Jeurys Familia is ready for what comes next, but the question is, are the Mets ready? Familia walked out the Fort Lee Municipal Court Thursday morning a free man and with his legal record free and clear. The simple assault charges that stemmed from an Oct. 31 fight with his wife were dropped after she told prosecutors that she did not want to proceed with the case.
But Familia is not expected to walk into 2017 season free and clear.
Industry sources believe that Familia will still face a suspension of at least 30 games under the joint domestic violence policy to start the 2017 season. So, even with the decision Thursday, Fa- milia and the Mets are still sort of in a state of limbo.
Familia is gearing up to plead his case to MLB and try to avoid a suspension under the joint domestic violence policy. The Mets, however, have made just minor bullpen moves so far this offseason, even though it was obvious that they needed bullpen help before this incident.
Now both the Mets and Familia need to prepare for baseball’s decision.
The conclusion of the legal case against the 27-year-old Dominican native means that Major League Baseball will put its own investigation of the incident into high gear. Thursday morning, a league source said the investigation was “on-going,” and there was no timetable for a decision from Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Thursday there were some details from the incident revealed that could certainly play in Familia’s favor when baseball is considering his fate.
Prosecutor Arthur Balsamo declined to go forward with the case after Bianca Rivas, Familia’s wife, made it clear to him that she did not want charges pressed.
Rivas said that Familia never hurt her, Balsamo said Thursday.
On Oct. 31, Rivas called 911 and stated that Familia was “drunk,” and “going crazy.” The police who responded reported they found scratches on her chest and a bruise on her cheek. Rivas claimed the scratches came from the couple’s 1-year-old son and the bruise came from leaning on her cheek, Balsamo revealed Thursday. She also told the prosecutor that two knives that were found by police on the ground in the apartment were not used to threaten her, but that Familia used them to jam a bathroom door, where he barricaded himself that night. Those factors and the fact that the legal proceedings were dropped — with Familia’s record expunged — will be considered as Manfred makes a decision on Familia’s fate, a league source said Thursday. Also, Familia’s attorney who will guide him through the MLB process, indicated to reporters Thursday that the dropped prosecution will play a part of a process. Attorney Jay Reisinger was in the courthouse with Familia Thursday, even though he was represented in the case by a local New Jersey lawyer. Reisinger was the attorney who represented Aroldis Chapman through the process with MLB last winter. The Yankee closer was never charged after his girlfriend alleged he choked her and fired a gun, but baseball still suspended him 30 games. Mets infielder Jose Reyes served a 52-game suspension last season in a case that was more similar to Familia’s. Reyes was charged after a fight with his wife in an Hawaii hotel room, but the case was dropped after his wife declined to cooperate with prosecutors. A Mets source Thursday afternoon was optimistic after Familia’s case was dropped. The team is hopeful that the details that came to light in court Thursday would help Familia avoid a suspension similar to the one Reyes served. But hope is not enough. The Mets are now planning to simply slide Addison Reed in as a closer if Familia is suspended. Thursday, they signed two minor league right-handers with minimal major-league experience and gave one, 28-year-old righty Ben Rowen, an invite to major league camp this spring. He will pitch for a spot in the B bullpen. ut the Mets need to find more than just a cheap arm to shore up the back of the bullpen, they need some insurance and preparation. Familia cleared his legal hurdles and looked well-prepared for whatever baseball decides. The bigger question is will the Mets be ready to handle the start of 2017 without their closer.