NEW YORK — Yankees substitute Jimmy Cordero has accepted a suspension for the remainder of the 2023 regular season and postseason for violating Major League Baseball’s joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Commissioner Robert D. Manfred announced the terms of Cordero’s suspension Wednesday following the results of the MLB investigation. Cordero’s inclusion in the blocked list is effective immediately.
Consistent with the terms of MLB policy, Cordero will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program overseen by the Joint Policy Board. Details of Cordero’s breach have not been made public.
The Yankees issued the following statement:
“The Yankees fully support the Major League Baseball investigation and disciplinary action taken against Jimmy Cordero. There is no justification for domestic violence and we stand by the goals, standards and enforcement of the MLB Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Act policies.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Cordero informed him a few days ago that a league investigation was underway. Boone said he learned of Cordero’s suspension Tuesday night.
“When you get or hear about this news, it’s sad,” Boone said. “Her heart is with everyone involved. … The biggest thing on my mind right now is just feeling the situation, hoping and praying that something good will come out of it, that there will be maturity, growth or healing, whatever is going on.”
Boone said he spoke to the team about the suspension earlier Wednesday. The name tag had been removed from Cordero’s assigned locker ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium, leaving only hangers and a phone charger.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge said he spoke with Cordero Wednesday before the suspension was announced.
“I just said, ‘Hey, learn from this,'” Judge said. “I was pretty upset. I know a lot of guys on the team are upset. This is in the hands of the league and the league has imposed the suspension. Hopefully he learns from it and becomes a better person.”
Cordero, 31, went 3-2 in 31 appearances (one start) for the Yankees in 2023 with a 3.86 ERA. In 32 2/3 innings, Cordero allowed 14 runs and 25 hits, with 10 walks and 34 strikeouts.
Cordero signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in 2022 while recovering from surgery on Tommy John. In his big league career, he has also pitched for the Nationals (2018), Blue Jays (2019), and White Sox (2019–20).
To replace Cordero in the active roster, right-hander Randy Vásquez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“We’ll take care of the baseball part,” Boone said. “This is real life and a much more serious situation.”