Commissioner of baseball, Rob Manfred speaks to the media before the Jackie Robinson Day game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 15, 2015. Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI |
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CHICAGO -- Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that he expects to make a decision within the next few days whether a two-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins will be played in Puerto Rico later this month as scheduled.
Manfred also said that he will soon make a decision on whether Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes will be suspended. Domestic-violence charges against Reyes were dropped three weeks ago in Hawaii, but Manfred has yet to announce whether Reyes will face a punishment from MLB. Reyes was placed on paid administrative leave on Feb. 23.
The Pirates and Marlins are scheduled to play May 30-31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of Roberto Clemente Day celebration. However, player concerns over the Zika virus have caused Manfred to consider moving the games to Miami, as the Marlins already were considered the home team for the series.
Talk of the Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitos, is causing concern ahead of this summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. United States health officials also have determined that the disease -- which can cause a birth defect called microcephaly -- is a potential problem in Puerto Rico.
Meeting with reporters at U.S. Cellular Field prior to Thursday's game between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox, Manfred said a decision regarding the game's location will be made Friday at the earliest and Monday at the latest.
"We are in the process of still having discussions with a variety of interested parties, mostly outside the game ... before we make a decision," Manfred said.
The charges initially brought against Reyes stem from an incident Oct. 31 involving his wife in Maui. The judge dismissed the charges after Reyes' wife declined to cooperate with the investigation.
Manfred place Reyes on paid administrative leave under baseball's new domestic-violence policy before the four-time All-Star was scheduled to report for spring training. If Reyes does receive a suspension without pay, he can use the games he has missed so far this season against whatever penalty Manfred hands down.
Manfred said Thursday he is waiting on a piece of information from the Major League Baseball Players Association before he makes a final decision, which is looming.
"I think we are in the home stretch of the Reyes case," Manfred said.
Manfred also discussed baseball's on-going battle with performance-enhancing drugs, saying he embraces the higher standard the game is holding itself to. He said National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta being forced to defend himself against PED rumors is a "really unfortunate circumstance."
