The punishment has been decided and handed down.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has been suspended for six games while Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez received three games and closer Emmanuel Clase one game for their parts in Saturday’s bench-clearing melee between the two teams, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Also suspended for a game were managers Pedro Grifol and Terry Francona, as well as Guardians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh.
Anderson and Ramirez are appealing their suspensions, so their discipline will be held off until the process is completed. Grifol, Francona and Clase will serve their suspensions Monday, and Sarbaugh will serve his Tuesday.
The two teams came to blows when Ramirez and Anderson squared off near second base after Ramirez slid in safely on a double in the bottom of the sixth. The fight was the culmination of multiple days of trash-talking and gesturing between the two teams, which most recently picked up steam in a series in late July in Chicago.
In a game on July 27, Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor imitated former White Sox third baseman Jake Burger’s base-hit celebration and Anderson took exception, according to sources close to the situation. In that same game, Clase struck out Andrew Benintendi looking to end the game, then yelled in the direction of the Chicago dugout. Anderson, in particular, could be seen looking out at the mound from the White Sox dugout as the Guardians celebrated their victory.
Over the next few outings, Anderson increased his trash-talking, including carrying it over to Progressive Field in Cleveland for their weekend series. On Friday, Anderson pulled Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio off the bag at second, leading to him being called out, further angering Cleveland players.
The fight between Anderson and Ramirez was the climax of all those events.
All parties involved in the scuffle incurred fines along with their suspensions. Also fined were White Sox starter Michael Kopech and Guardians outfielder Gabriel Arias.
