NEW YORK — Texas second baseman Rougned Odor was suspended for eight games and fined $5,000 by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista on the jaw.
Major League Baseball disciplined 14 people for their roles during Sunday’s brawl at Arlington, Texas.
Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez was suspended three games for hitting Prince Fielder with a pitch. Manager John Gibbons, who returned to the field for the fight following his ejection five innings earlier, was penalized three games for inciting additional fighting.
Bautista, who made a hard takeout slide on Odor, was suspended for one game by MLB senior vice president Joe Garagiola Jr. for his actions and postgame comments.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was suspended for one game for aggressive actions and Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper one game for returning to the dugout after his ejection.
Odor and Bautista appealed their discipline, which will be held in abeyance pending a resolution. Andrus was to serve his penalty Tuesday at Oakland. MLB was awaiting a decision by Chavez.
Texas pitchers Matt Bush (intentionally throwing at Bautista), Sam Dyson (aggressive actions) and A.J. Griffin (being on the field while on the disabled list) were fined along with catcher Robinson Chirinos (being on the field while on the DL) and bench coach Steve Buechele (aggressive actions).
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson was fined for aggressive actions along with outfielder Kevin Pillar. Bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who was acting manager following Gibbons’ ejection, was fined for Chavez’s actions after the teams had been warned by umpires.
Tension had been brewing from Oct. 14, when Bautista hit a tie-breaking three-run homer against Dyson in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the AL Division Series and then flipped his bat dramatically.
In the last regular-season game between the teams this year, Bush opened the eighth inning with a 96 mph fastball that hit Bautista on the left arm and ricocheted off a thigh.
Plate umpire Dan Iassogna warned both benches, and Justin Smoak bounced to third with one out. Bautista slid hard and late into the right leg of Odor and 8 feet past second base. Odor shoved Bautista with both hands, then threw a punch to his jaw that made Bautista’s head snap back, causing his sunglasses and helmet to fly off. Dugouts and bullpens emptied.
Smoak was called out for an inning-ending double play, and Chavez hit Fielder on the right thigh with the next pitch.
TIGERS: Manager Brad Ausmus was suspended for one game and fined after his histrionic ejection from Monday night’s game against Minnesota.
Ausmus was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a called third strike. During the argument, he took off his sweatshirt and used it to cover up home plate.
CUBS: Chicago signed reliever Joe Nathan to a one-year deal and placed the 15-year veteran on the 60-day disabled list. Nathan is recovering from Tommy John surgery in April 2015.
BLUE JAYS: Toronto recalled ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte and activated infielder Jimmy Paredes.
Venditte, a right-hander who can also pitch left-handed, had a 7.36 ERA in five appearances in April. Paredes was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Monday.
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