APRIL 30TH: MLB has changed its plans and will suspend Oviedo for eight weeks, not six according to Barry Jackson and Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald. The suspension is not retroactive and will not begin until Oviedo secures a visa and returns to the United States.
APRIL 1ST: Major League Baseball will suspend Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly known as Leo Nunez) for six weeks following his removal from the restricted list, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Oviedo is currently home in the Dominican Republic where he's performing community service required to acquire a visa that will allow him to come back to the United States. Jackson calls the acquistion of a visa "inevitable," but doesn't offer a timetable for when it will happen. Perhaps most importantly for the Marlins, they aren't required to pay any of Oviedo's $6MM salary while he's on the restricted list or suspended.
The Fish inked Heath Bell to a three-year pact this offseason, and Oviedo figured to be his primary setup man. He'll surrender that role to Edward Mujica, according to Jackson. In three seasons as the Marlins' closer, Oviedo totaled 198 innings and 92 saves to go along with a 3.86 ERA, 8.5 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9. He's been the center of plenty of offseason controversy after it was revealed that he was playing under a false identity.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Dandy. Now where’s the DUI suspension for Miggy Cabrera, Bobby Jenks, etc. ?
Jenks is gone for the season anyway, but I whole heartedly agree with you on both. jenks is on 60 day DL, then that will probably be tip of the iceberg.. He may not even pitch next season.
We also should be wondering about people like Ramirez getting penalties set in the books reduced.. The league seems to want established players back on the field and it reeks.. Those people should be held up as examples and if anything? tougher penalties over the younger people/prospects.
Agreed, they have to be tougher on PED guys, drinkers, and so on. It’s for the good of the players too. Who wants to be the next major leaguer in jail because nobody was tough and got him real help? Or in a hospital recovering from PED use?
you can get a DUI for drinking 2 beers and cops are looking for prople like that on the weekends after 10 oclock so I wouldnt suspend anyone for a DUI
His name is Robert Paulson.
With this resolved, is there any resolution coming soon on the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona?
Service time doesn’t run, but if say, Oviedo were to miss the entire season, would his contract be tolled? (Edit made after reading another post.)
I empathize with Oviedo, but I was thinking that MLB would come down harder on him to discourage this from happening in the future. He’s going to continue to make millions, so how many more are going to try to do the same thing he did?
Agreed…but there is something a bit more disturbing. Are these players playing under assumed names and identities also trying to run away from a past?
So far I’d say no, more likely just trying to get better contracts by appearing to be younger. Money.
Exactly. They should make him donate 99% of future earnings to charity. Kids in countries with lax ID standards are going to try the same thing. Oviedo is going to miss half the season, big whoop.
If I had 8 weeks off, I’d go to the Dominican Republic.
another disaster for the team