Nationals suspend Jonathan Papelbon, ending the closer's season
A day after Jonathan Papelbon attacked Bryce Harper in the Washington Nationals dugout during their loss to the Phillies, the Nationals suspended Papelbon four games without pay.
A day after Jonathan Papelbon attacked Bryce Harper in the Washington Nationals dugout during their loss to the Phillies, the Nationals suspended Papelbon four games without pay.
Papelbon also dropped his appeal of the three-game ban levied by Major League Baseball for throwing in the head area of Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
The two suspensions combined will end Papelbon's season. The Nationals play only seven more games, beginning with Monday's make-up game against the Cincinnati Reds.
"The behavior exhibited by Papelbon yesterday is not acceptable," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a prepared statement released by the team. "That is not at all in line with the way our players are expected to conduct themselves, and the Nationals organization will not tolerate it in any way."
This is the second consecutive September that Papelbon was suspended by his team. The Phillies suspended him for seven games last year after he made a lewd gesture toward the Citizens Bank Park crowd when exiting after a blown save.
Papelbon, 34, is under contract with the Nationals for $11 million next season. The Phillies traded him to Washington along with cash considerations on July 28 for minor-league pitcher Nick Pivetta.
























