2:30pm: Houston issued a statement Sunday in regards to acquiring Osuna, all of which is available here via the team’s Twitter account. Here’s a portion of it: “Our decision to acquire Roberto was based on the entirety of information that we gathered during our extensive evaluation. That included as much information as we could gather about the specific incident and the charges that were filed but it also included as much information as we could gather about his actions before and after the incident, as well as his personal reputation among his former teammates and coaches. The information regarding this specific incident weighed heavily on our decision but when evaluating the entirety of the information, we felt that Roberto deserved a second chance.”
12:12pm: The Astros have reinstated reliever Roberto Osuna from the restricted list and sent starter Lance McCullers Jr. to the 10-day DL with right elbow discomfort, per a team announcement.
Osuna is now in position to make his debut with Houston, which acquired him in a headline-grabbing deal on the eve of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. To land Osuna, the Astros gave up three players – including their former closer, Ken Giles – in a move that hasn’t been received all that well from Houston’s point of view. While Osuna has been an excellent reliever since debuting in 2015, the 23-year-old’s career may be forever tarnished by an early May arrest on a domestic assault charge. Major League Baseball then issued Osuna a 75-game suspension, which he’s just returning from now.
Although Osuna has served MLB’s punishment, he’s not out of legal hot water in Canada. Osuna had a court date on Aug. 1, though there was no resolution at that hearing and he has another one scheduled for Sept. 5, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported earlier this week. It’s not clear, then, whether Osuna will even be available toward the end of the season as the playoff-bound Astros vie for their second straight World Series title.
From solely an on-field standpoint, the Osuna addition figures to help the Astros’ cause. Osuna was a lights-out closer during his 223-inning Toronto tenure, saving 104 games on 124 tries and logging a 2.87 ERA.
BOOO!
When they get Altuve and Correa back, they are going to be scary. Even if McCullers is down.
Tbh Astros are gunna be scary good for years to come osuna is only 23 they’re building a better dynasty than the cubs
Ciao bello.
Better to lose without a guy like Osuna than win with one.
Sad day for the Astros.
As an Astros fan I agree. I know he hasn’t technically been found guilty but if there was enough evidence for MLB to suspend him I would imagine the odds are not in his favor.
You have to think the Jays knew something more than the other GM’s did. They went from ‘we are keeping him, and possibly close again this season’ to ‘we traded him…’. I mean you don’t change that quickly if there was more information given to Atkins, Shipiro and company.
That’s possible, although some teams just seem to have a lower tolerance for things like this and some seem to only prioritize winning no matter what. I think the Blue Jays just fall into the first category.
And that’s a good thing, as for the Astros, they already have Gurriel, Bregman, and Osuna, they might as well go after Luke Heimlich
The lower tolerance is a moral decision to not accept this behavior no matter what.
Gurriel shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as Osuna or Heimlich. And what’s wrong with Bregman?
Wrong, give me a championship with a group of convicts then the cellar with church goes. Don’t look for athletes to be some type of moral supremacy.
They dont have to be model citizens but domestic abuse is terrible. Osuna needs a good ass kicking from someone that can control him. Hes a joke..
It could very well be the case of he got into a verbal argument and she hit him, he pushed her. Not saying this is okay, but to crucify this guy without knowing the situation. Also, it might have just been a argument with no physical contact. If she goes to the papers then MLB looks bad regardless. They can suspend based off that alone. Just not enough is known. If I’m 6 months photos get released and she is bruised up then I will say get rid of him. But to many money hungry “Victims” it there now days blackmailing.
Except that those who know the situation best have a) suspended him 75 games (45 more than Aroldis Chapman and 60 more than Steven Wright) and b) traded him at the soonest possible opportunity.
I just don’t see a whole lot that warrants the benefit of doubt in this case. And if he wasn’t a good pitcher, it’s unlikely he’d be getting any.
In some respects, I agree that we shouldn’t crucify individuals in the public sphere when we have incomplete and uncertain understandings of the events. However, we can absolutely crucify an organization going out of their way to acquire that individual without the same understanding.
This is a really good point.
You see, that comment makes me angry. What is ambiguous about that video? Does it mean “maybe she deserved to be hit?”
You get butthurt at anything, madman.
I take issue with you using the term “money hungry victims”. To even suggest that label at this phase in the process is disrespectful to those involved in this case and other instances of domestic abuse
Do you realize you admitted that you don’t know the situation and then still proceeded to act out a “what if” hypothetical scenario?
None of us know the scenario but mlb has suspended him for 75 games and his charges haven’t been dropped. Those are bad signs.
Innocent until PROVEN guilty. I don’t want to defend the abuser but the public can’t be judge, jury, and executioner. Besides if he pays his legal debt he shouldn’t be branded for life. Serve the punishment and get back to business.
If you don’t want to defend the abuser, then why are you defending the abuser?
Public isn’t playing judge, jury, and executioner – the commissioner is, and an actual judge and jury will do that, as well.
Fair would be out of action until charges resolved & sentence served IF found guilty, the a warranted suspension. That would be fair..
She was significantly injured. Hospitalized. Found with significant face and head injuries by an unrelated individual who called the police. This was not a “push”.
Yes and he apologized today for the distraction, it’s a shame the victim can’t apologize and forget about the whole ordeal, instead she will live with this for life.
I had a lot of respect for the work the Astros FO did in building this team, but that ended when they made the decision to acquire Osuna, when no other team would touch him.
His lawyer has made it clear Osuna has NO remorse for what he did. The cops who have seen the evidence say the damage inflicted on the woman who gave birth to Osuna’s child last Fall is stomach-turning. MLB reviewed the evidence and felt strongly enough to issue its second-longest punishment for domestic violence.
But Luhnow gave a lot of nonsense about “second chances” to someone who clearly needs to step away from the game and devote himself completely to finding out why he lacks self-control over violent impulses. The reality is Luhnow needs Osuna’s arm more than he needs a moral compass.
Yeah, I was pretty appalled by what Luhnow told reporters the other day after he acquired Osuna. I can’t remember where I saw the exact quote (I think from some reporter on Twitter), but he basically discounted it because he was with another team when it happened instead of blaming him for doing it at all. There was more to it than that but that’s the part that really stuck with me.
Luhnow also put his players, particularly a guy like Verlander who had come out strong against domestic violence in the past, in a really bad situation. They’ve been forced to sacrifice their principles — and unfairly made to look like hypocrites — to preserve team chemistry and protect a teammate most of them probably never wanted in the first place.
This was just a really strange decision considering the quality of relief talent that was available this summer. It seems like an unforced error that could have lasting consequences.
You bring up some great points. I’d have to agree…I don’t have the stats with me to support what I’m saying but the Astros’ bullpen has been lights out pretty much all year outside of Devenski’s recent skid. Bullpen help wasn’t really something they needed (although I get that a lot of teams add a reliever anyway which isn’t a bad idea), but there were so many solid guys on the market that would have still been good pickups without any of the potential backlash.
How is it unfair? Guys like Verlander can speak out against this move by the team or they can choose to be silent hypocrites.
It’s unfair in that it’s a no-win situation for a group of players who had literally nothing to do with the acquisition. They can say what they really feel and risk blowing up what they’ve worked really hard to build to this point or they can give measured answers — as Verlander did when interviewed — and look weak on the issue.
It wasn’t Verlander’s decision to bring Osuna in. And my guess is it wouldn’t have happened had he — and most others — had been in charge. The only reason they’re being put in the situation they are is because Luhnow either a) was too tone deaf to understand that there would be a ton of backlash to this decision or b) cared more about adding Osuna’s arm than the makeup of his roster and perceived integrity of his players. Either way, this is on Luhnow, not the players. They’re just trying to make lemonade.
It’s not the fans decisions either, and some of us will continue to support the Astros despite this. I only hope it pays off and they welcome him with open arms. After all, you win as a team and you lose as a team. They want to win and freezing him out will not make it better but it’ll make it worse. As Daniel said, they might as well just try to make lemonade out of it.
Difficult to see that it was strictly Luhnow on his own accord. With the massive implications both in terms of PR and clubhouse relations, this was not a spur of the moment deal which was made by some loose cannon to buy low. Also highly doubt, judging by most of his trades that he gave up what he did while bidding against himself. To the extent of who/how many signed off on this is just as unknown as what actually happened in Osuna’s case. Verlander, by all accounts is a leader and not one to stand by idly. To think the organization completely by passed him seems off. A player of his stature with his resume could covertly shut the entire season down. Hearing nothing other than how the Astros have one of, if not the best clubhouses in the MLB, when he speaks, one would imagine, people listen.
I can only go by what Verlander himself said publicly, and that’s that he he was not consulted about the possibility before the trade. This decision was that of Luhnow and his front office, and sitting in the GM chair puts it at Luhnow’s feet.
We’ve seen that there is a huge backlash against athletes who speak out and stand up for their principles. Unfortunately, many would rather them be silent hypocrites.
You’re spot on with the entire situation, Daniel. Verlander and others either compromise morals or compromise clubhouse chemistry with their response to this move. Not given much, if any, room to have it both ways. As you said, this could be a major unforced error with lasting consequences. Or it could blow over. Time will tell.
They dont look like hypocrites, they are hypocrites. Id rather they just be honest and admit winning is the only thing that matters.
Its funny how some only want athlete’s & entertainers to shut up & dribble or shut up & sing or act.. Then spend time trying to disqualify their opinions as elites or out of touch.
I haven’t read anything about the Canadian government cooperating with the MLB… I do not see why they would either, as it would violate privacy laws set in place for the victim.
Well said
Why isn’t Kenny Lofton in the Hall of Fame? Look at the career numbers and gold gloves. He is the epitome of a great leadoff hitter and he did it for 16 years. Ridiculous he didn’t even make it past the first time he was eligible. How he got left off over 96% of all the ballots is ludicrous. He needs to be in
When did Kenny Lofton come into this conversation?
I think you have the wrong number
lol my guy why you coming in every thread with this??
Lol I just think some attention should be drawn to the subject. I can’t write my own post, so it has to come off as random. He really should be in though
I agree, Kenny Lofton should not have all his attention derailed by domestic assault. Obviously, they are of equal importance.
Nice.
Plot twist: Scott Burgos IS Kenny Lofton.
Lol, I wish !!
But seriously, look at his numbers and tell me how the hell hes not in?
There were multiple teams vying for Osuna and the Astros gave the best package. Bottom line is if he pitches like he can, the Astros will win more games and possibly close out more championships. If this is a one time thing and he is a model citizen after this, Astros fans will chant his name after closing out another WS championship.
Do you think those fans will include women?
Great comment.
The problem is that issues like domestic violence usually aren’t one time things. It’s usually a pattern of behavior. Either way though, they shouldn’t be willing to push it under the rug if he wins them another title.
So what should be done with him? Ban him from civilized society? Especially since he hasn’t been found guilty of anything. Governor Cuomo just pardoned a guy who killed 2 police officers. Let’s keep it in perspective.
It’s more fun to judge people in light of limited information than to think rationally. This is the Internet, after all.
There’s a wide gulf between banning a guy from society and seeking him out in a trade as a contending Major League Baseball team. One is an unfair punishment, the other is an unjust reward.
The point is he hasn’t been convicted of a crime. I thought that here in the US you are presumed innocent until convicted? I guess this is just more selective law enforcement.
If we could trust our justice system to actually enforce laws in a just manner, I would buy into that cliche more. As long as wealthy/famous people continue to skirt the law or get off easy compared to you or me, I see no reason to wait for a formal conviction.
BS there are already women Astros fans in Houston saying they are done with the team after signing this loser. Only a scumbag takes a championship over integrity, honor and respect.
I’ve seen some female Astros fans decide to continue to support the team.
What video? I can’t seem to find one anywhere. Are you talking about the one in the stairwell?
Hypocrisy: the Astros claim a zero tolerance and the video of how heinous an assault this was doesn’t lie. The Astros just flushed their karma down the toilet.
What video?
There is a video. Not released to the public but there is a video.
Whether or not he’s been convicted of anything, it seems like a very strange move by a team that has risen from the ashes and become the type of organization that others now try to emulate.
The chemistry of a championship ball club is incredible volatile. Why in the world would management go out of its way to bring in someone who is going to be a divisive component and a tremendous distraction from the focus of trying to win another World Series? It makes no sense. No player is worth and again, regardless of what Osuna did or did not do, it’s an incredibly stupid move by the Astros……………..and that doesn’t even factor in the public relations component. This is the type of dumb move a bad organization makes in the hope of getting a guy on the cheap.
My thoughts exactly. And there were so many other good relief options on the market. You could have added any of those guys you wanted, and you went out of your way to acquire Osuna and his drama. It’s just really bizarre.
Interestingly, having been through the Danry Vasquez situation and the outspokenness of the organization’s players on the subject… would the Astros front office not discuss a potential move of this proportion with its players? Especially Verlander?
Osuna will deliver a much needed punch to that Astro bullpen
It’s going to be great when Oakland runs them down and closes their contention window early just because Chapman is way better than anyone on their team, including Altuve or Correa, by a long way. Also please stop bringing up Famila like he’s the same as Osuna, Familia had it expunged from his record, Osuna is a nightmare-level human being who never showed remorse and deserves a lifetime ban from MLB.
What a terrible franchise. They’re officially worse than the Yankees or Red Sox now in “teams you just root against no matter what”. Eff the Astros.
Chapman is a talented player but he is no where near as good as Altuve, Bregman, Correa, Springer, etc.
I wonder how many of the “naysayers“ on here would stand and applaud if it would’ve been a trade for Chapman? Or maybe you DID applaud when the Yankees acquired him!
I’m an Indians fan, but if Lindor or Ramirez did something as disgusting as what Osuna did, I wouldn’t cheer for them.
Human decency should not only reside outside of baseball
I’m also an Indians fan and I feel the same way
Or the Cubs? Don’t remember hearing much negativity when they gave up their #1 prospect for a shut down closer and chance at post season glory. Apparently, once a troubled player is traded off (in a buy low situation no less), the next time said player is traded the slate is cleaned and all is forgiven. Not to mention when the same player then resigns for an extremely lucrative contract, in Chapman’s case, with his previous organization, the entire situation is herald as an extremely shrewd move on the front offices’ part, which in turn, hangs their hat so very high on its touted youth movement/minor league system.
Jeff Luhnow – “The Astros have a firm ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’* when it comes to domestic violence.”
*The Astros’ front office is actually pretty okay with domestic violence if it helps us win.
Hey folks. As I know someone in my he BlueJays room, he says what Osuna did is awful, much worse than Chapman or Wright and normally someone would see jail time.
The Astros really don’t care despite the words. They are choosing to win over integrity.
As far as Atkins comments, they were total Bs designed to drive up the trade price. Osuna was never going to get a sniff of pitching in a BlueJays IMO again, as was called here 2 days after the infraction.
There is talk about that the Gf may get bought out so no testifying in order for Osuna to continue his career and earn the Cheques to take care of h r and his kid.
Yep. I know a guy also. It’s worse than what people know. Also, you’re right about the Astros. If any Houston fan does not like it, boycott. Hit the organization where it hurts the most and they will get the message.
Let’s not forget Brett Myers in the park, Jose Reyes, and most likely other players with incidences not reported or charged. Morality is out the window for many.
So, get suspended for hitting your wife and be eligible for the postseason. Get for taking a supplement that only hurts your body, not eligible for post season. Got it.
Beat your girlfriend, get a better job…