Major League Baseball has suspended New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson for one game. He has also been fined an undisclosed amount for his “inappropriate comments’ made to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Saturday. The suspension and fine where levied Monday afternoon.
Donaldson is fighting the suspension with an appeal, MLB announced. He will be eligible to play for the Yankees until the appeal process is completed. Shortly before the suspension was announced, the Yankees said Donaldson had been placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
“MLB has completed the process of speaking to the individuals involved in this incident,” Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, said in a statement. “There is no dispute over what was said on the field. Regardless of Mr. Donaldson’s intent, the comment he directed toward Mr. Anderson was disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions. In addition, Mr. Donaldson’s remark was a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident between the teams, and warrants discipline.”
White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz did not think the penalty was severe enough.
“Just one game. We all saw his malice at third a week ago, then this comment with the ridiculous excuse that followed. What’s the point or message behind a 1 game suspension? This is incredibly disappointing and plain frustrating,” Katz tweeted.
The Yankees’ third baseman was disciplined for his actions that led to a benches-clearing episode at the new Yankee Stadium on Saturday, when the White Sox took offense to what they deemed to be a racially charged comment made by Donaldson.
After the game, Donaldson talked to the assembled media and acknowledged calling Anderson “Jackie”, a reference to Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB’ color barrier in 1947, in the first inning. Donaldson apologized, saying he meant no disrespect.
Anderson, who is black, stated Saturday that he was offended by Donaldson’s comments, calling it “disrespectful” and “unnecessary.” He had to be restrained by his teammates and was escorted to the dugout where he still had to be calmed down. White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Saturday that he thought Donaldson’s comment was “racist.”
Donaldson claimed that he was referring to a 2019 Sports Illustrated interview in which Anderson said that he feels like “today’s Jackie Robinson.”
Anderson stated, “He made a disrespectful comment. [Donaldson] basically tried to call me Jackie Robinson, like, ‘What’s up, Jackie?’ I don’t play like that. I don’t need to play at all. I wasn’t really bothering [anybody] today, but he made the comment and it was disrespectful.”
This is not the first time Donaldson has had a problem with the White Sox organization. The benches also emptied on May 13, after Anderson shoved Donaldson following a hard tag in Chicago last season, while with the Minnesota Twins. White Sox ace Lucas Giolito used an expletive in calling Donaldson a “pest” last year after the third baseman appeared to yell “not sticky anymore!” after a first inning homer, a reference to MLB cracking down on pitchers using sticky substances on baseballs.
The American League East-leading Yankees are scheduled to open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and then travel to Tampa Bay for a four-game set with the Rays beginning Thursday.
