Yankees manager Aaron knew that pitcher Jimmy Cordero was facing an investigation following allegations of domestic abuse. He revealed this during the pregame press conference on Wednesday following the MLB’s suspension of the Yankees pitcher for the remainder of the season.
Boone admitted that Jimmy Cordero informed him about the MLB investigation a few days ago, However, he admitted to have a general sense of the situation and was not provided with detailed information.
According to SNY, Aaron Boone acknowledged that Jimmy Cordero approached him a couple of days ago and provided a heads-up regarding an ongoing investigation. The Yankees manager indicated that he didn’t have much additional information beyond that.
“He came to me a couple of days ago and gave a heads up as to an investigation going on and that’s kind of the extent of it,” Boone quoted saying.
Cordero’s suspension marks the third instance of a Yankees player being penalized under MLB’s domestic abuse policy, which was implemented in 2015. Prior to Cordero, Domingo German received an 81-game suspension in 2020, while Aroldis Chapman was handed a 30-game ban following an incident in 2016.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Boone acknowledged the situation involving Jimmy Cordero and emphasized that his primary concern was not the impact on the team’s bullpen but rather the gravity of the incident itself. He expressed the intention to prioritize the seriousness of the matter over the baseball-related aspects.
Boone communicated that his primary focus was on the situation at hand, expressing empathy and the hope for a positive outcome. He emphasized the importance of maturity, growth, and healing in relation to the ongoing matter. Regarding the team’s bullpen and baseball-related concerns, Boone stated that they were of secondary importance and would be addressed separately.
He also acknowledged the gravity of the situation, recognizing that Jimmy Cordero’s suspension was extending beyond the realm of baseball and into real-life circumstances.
In response to MLB’s suspension announcement, the Yankees issued a statement affirming their support for the league’s decision about Jimmy Cordero.
The Yankees expressed their full support for Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action taken against Jimmy Cordero. They emphasized their stance against domestic violence and affirmed their alignment with MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy in terms of objectives, standards, and enforcement.
Boone expressed optimism that Jimmy Cordero could potentially follow a path of redemption similar to Domingo German. However, due to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teams are not privy to the specifics of MLB’s investigation, receiving only confirmation that an investigation is underway. Similarly, players have the discretion to share only the information they choose to disclose. It appears that Jimmy Cordero has chosen to remain relatively tight-lipped, exercising his right to privacy.
Boone expressed his sentiments regarding the news, acknowledging the sadness and extending his sympathy to all parties involved. He shared these thoughts on Wednesday, several hours prior to the Yankees’ 6-3 loss in the third game of their four-game series against the Orioles.
Jimmy Cordero joined the Yankees organization as a free agent in December 2021 and has been a part of the team since then.
Aaron Judge calls Jimmy Cordero’s suspension ‘terrible’
Upon learning about Jimmy Cordero’s suspension for violating the league’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, Yankees captain Aaron Judge expressed being “upset” about the news.
Judge shared that he had a conversation with Jimmy Cordero regarding the suspension, acknowledging that there are still many unknown details surrounding the incident. He mentioned that they recently learned about the suspension being related to domestic violence and described it as difficult. Judge emphasized that his thoughts are with Jimmy Cordero’s family during this challenging time. He acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and expressed hope that the Yankees pitcher can learn from it as they move forward.
“I talked with Jimmy about it. There’s still a lot of unknowns. We really don’t know what happened and what the incident is,” the Yankees captain said. “We just found out that he’s suspended for the rest of the year with domestic violence. It’s tough. Like I said, I have his family on my mind. It’s a terrible incident but we can move forward with it and hopefully he learns.”
On Wednesday, Jimmy Cordero, 31, was placed on the restricted list, resulting in a 76-game ban for the remainder of the 2023 season. This suspension will also extend to any potential playoff games if the Yankees qualify.
Despite limited information regarding the specific incident that led to Jimmy Cordero’s suspension, Aaron Judge addressed the situation during a media session on Wednesday. While not all Yankees players were directly notified of the ban, Jimmy Cordero did inform Judge, who serves as the team’s captain, about the suspension on the same day.
Aaron Judge, currently on the injured list due to a toe injury, refrained from providing specific details about the incident that led to Jimmy Cordero’s suspension. However, he expressed his concern for the pitcher’s family and assured them that they were in his thoughts during this challenging time.
Judge noted that there are numerous resources available for Jimmy Cordero to utilize during this time. He expressed hope that the pitcher has already begun reaching out and taking advantage of those resources.
The Yankees captain expressed his hope that Cordero would learn from this experience and ultimately grow as a person as a result.
Judge acknowledged that he and his teammates were also upset about the situation. He emphasized that the league has taken responsibility for handling the matter and has made the decision to suspend Jimmy Cordero.
Yankees fans react
Yankees face a difficult choice
Jimmy Cordero had been experiencing a remarkable comeback this season, marking his return to the major leagues after a three-year absence due to Tommy John surgery and his 2022 stint with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had established himself as a dependable choice in the Yankees’ bullpen, which is widely regarded as one of the strongest in baseball.
He spent the previous season playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. In his current stint with the major league team this year, he has maintained a 3.86 ERA across 31 games. Additionally, he has shown an impressive strikeout rate, averaging more than one strikeout per inning, and has maintained a solid 1.07 WHIP.
During Jimmy Cordero’s suspension, the Yankees will not be providing him with any salary, and he has been removed from the team’s 40-man roster. They are unable to release him until the conclusion of his ban, but it seems unlikely that they will consider bringing him back for the next season unless there is substantial evidence demonstrating his complete rehabilitation.
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