Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor has been suspended eight games for his role in Sunday’s brawl with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
In addition, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will receive a three-game suspension, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Blue Jays reliever Jesse Chavez is also expected to receive three games.
Meanwhile, Josh Donaldson won’t face any discipline for coming to Bautista’s defence in the wake of the Odor punch.
Odor plans on appealing the suspension, according to multiple reports.
Odor punched Jose Bautista in the face on Sunday after the Blue Jays outfielder slid hard into second base after being hit by a pitch from Texas reliever Matt Bush.
Gibbons received a $5,000 fine to go along with the three-game suspension, which he’ll serve starting Tuesday.
“I thought that was a little excessive, but I’ve got enough issues to worry about,” he said.
MLB suspended Gibbons for one game when he ran onto the field after being ejected last year. This time the penalty was more severe, but he says his intention was to keep the peace in both cases.
“As a manager that’s your team out there,” he said. “You should go out there and try to keep things under control.”
Though managers and coaches can’t appeal suspensions, Gibbons expects to speak to MLB executive Joe Torre about the reasoning behind the decision in the coming days.
Gibbons can watch batting practice while suspended, but he can’t be on the field or in the dugout during games. In the meantime, bench coach DeMarlo Hale will manage the Blue Jays.
“If he goes 3-0 we will switch jobs,” Gibbons joked, before reconsidering. “Maybe even 2-1.”
— With files from Ben Nicholson-Smith
More to come.
