Mets closer Jeurys Familia doesn't discuss possible suspension
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Mets closer Jeurys Familia arrived at the club’s spring training complex on Tuesday after missing Monday’s scheduled report date due to visa issues. Familia, who is awaiting Major League Baseball’s ruling on a potential suspension over an October domestic-violence incident, did not discuss his case.
“My lawyer’s advice is that I don’t speak about anything related to his case,” he said through a team translator.
Familia was arrested at his family’s New Jersey home early in the morning of Oct. 31, but legal charges against the right-hander were dropped in December when Familia’s wife, Bianca Rivas, did not cooperate with the investigation. Major League Baseball maintains the right to suspend players over domestic violence even in the absence of formal charges. Aroldis Chapman and Jose Reyes, now Familia’s teammate with the Mets, both began the 2016 season suspended by the league for violent incidents.
The reliever declined to answer any questions about the incident or a potential suspension, deferring to the legal advice.
“I want to focus on baseball,” he said.
The Mets brought back free-agent left-hander Jerry Blevins to bolster their 2017 bullpen but made no major acquisitions for their relief corps. Setup man Addison Reed is expected to serve as the club’s closer in Familia’s absence.