The Yankees knew when they acquired Aroldis Chapman this winter that he likely wouldn't be available to them for some part of the 2016 season because of MLB discipline, but the hard-throwing reliever isn't willing to concede that point just yet.
Reporting to camp Thursday in Tampa, Fla., Chapman told reporters he would appeal any discipline administered by the league in connection with domestic violence allegations from an incident last fall. Chapman said he met with MLB investigators during the offseason, but the matter is out of his hands for now.
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"I'm focused on baseball and preparing for the season," Chapman said through a translator, via the New York Daily News .
The former Reds closer likely wouldn't be with the Yankees this spring if not for the incident, which came to light when a trade that would have sent Chapman to the Dodgers was put on hold. Yahoo Sports obtained a police report from October in which Chapman's girlfriend accused the pitcher of choking her and shoving her into a wall at his Miami home after an argument. According to the report, Chapman later punched a window in his Land Rover and fired several shots from a handgun inside his garage.
Asked Thursday via a translator if there were any discrepancies in the police report, Chapman said, "No."
Police determined there was insufficient evidence to charge the pitcher with any crime and he was traded to the Yankees three weeks later.
The lack of charges won't preclude MLB from suspending Chapman. A new domestic violence policy put in place last year allows for discipline at the commissioner's discretion, with no minimum or maximum penalties spelled out. Any appeal would be heard by an independent arbitrator.
