Major League Baseball on Friday announced an agreement with MLBPA on a joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Under the policy, in the works since late 2014, the commissioner's office will investigate all allegations of domestic violence, sexual assaults and child abuse in the baseball community. Consistent with the collective bargaining agreement, MLB will conduct an interview with the player.
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Once accused, a player can be placed on paid administrative leave for up to seven days while the allegations are investigated before a disciplinary decision is made.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will have the authority to discipline a player who commits an act of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse. There is no minimum or maximum penalty prescribed under the policy, as Manfred himself will determine the penalty.
The policy also allows a penalty to be appealed. A player may challenge his penalty before an arbitration panel, which consists of a representative of MLB and the players union and the parties’ agreed-upon impartial arbitator.
All disciplinary suspensions under the policy that are upheld are without pay and suspended players will not accrue Major League service.
A club may not discipline a player for a violation of the policy unless the commissioner defers his disciplinarily authority to the club.
All players will be provided education in English or Spanish about domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse at regular intervals and have access to a confidential 24-hour helpline.
MLB and the MLBPA have announced an agreement on a Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. pic.twitter.com/C1eTGljC6r
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) August 21, 2015