Players suspended under MLB DV policy

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Hi all,

Following the discussion from this post onwards (https://mlbbaseballleague.proboards.com/post/46905/thread), next offseason I will be introducing a new clause into rulebook to allow the removal of a guaranteed contract of a player who since being acquired by their current team in Mibble as a first time offender has been issued a suspension of 20 games or more under the league's domestic violence policy.
I appreciate that this differs quite significantly from how these players are treated in real life, but as this is a game we play we are afforded the luxury of some liberties. In what is a leisure activity, I think it appropriate that we have the facility to remove offending players from the eyes of anyone who doesn't wish to have to see them.

I don't think it would be fair on those who have suffered through such suspensions in the past to bring in this change without warning, hence the delay for bringing in this rule change.
I think this is a rule that perhaps we could have considered adding in the past, so my apologies to those who have had to roster these players in the past without this option. I hope that doing something on this timescale is better late than never.

Thanks,
Stephen

[Braves GM (Eric)]

So, under this proposal, if somebody trades for Clevinger at this moment, before any punishments have been levied, would they be able to drop his contract once/if the punishment is given?

Or, is the ‘offense’ already committed and anybody who acquires him between ‘offense’ and ‘suspension’ would be saying they’re okay with the DV accusations, thereby forgoing the ability to drop?

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

It is my intention to bring in this rule around the end of the next MBL World Series so that it is active for when the end of 2023 roster freeze is lifted.
If Clevinger is serving a 20 game or more suspension at that point under the MLB DV policy (and it is his first suspension under the MLB DV policy), and that is a suspension which was issued since the current owner of Clevinger acquired him, he could be dropped.

It is my current understanding that he is being investigated at the moment, but no suspension has been issued. If someone were to trade for him, and the suspension were issued after the trade went through, that owner could drop him next offseason when the rule comes in if he were still mid-suspension. If the suspension was served and ended in the meantime, he could not be dropped. If he served the suspension mid-season and then were issued another separate suspension, he could not be dropped (unless it were a lifetime ban).

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Hi all,

This change has been made, with slight amendments which don't change the intent but may help avoid some practical issues relating to how it will actually work.

Fundamentally, this change is intended to allow any owner to take a zero tolerance approach to a player suspended under MLB's domestic violence policy as a first time offender and remove their guaranteed contract (and their name) from their roster.
I hope it is a dispensation we will never have opportunity to use, but I fear that to not be the case.

Stephen