MLBPA concedes more power with Jeurys Familia suspension

The 15-game suspension of Jeurys Familia was handed down by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred under the joint domestic violence policy, setting a bad precedent for the MLBPA in future similar situations.

The big issue here is that Jeurys Familia’s actions which prompted his October arrest, while commonly viewed as inappropriate, do not constitute domestic violence under the joint policy between the league and the players. That viewpoint was maintained by Familia in his statement after his suspension was announced.

That point of view was upheld by MLB’s investigation, as conveyed by Manfred’s comments in the statement announcing the suspension. Both parties have agreed that what Familia did, while not up to the standard that MLB players are expected to maintain, was not domestic violence as defined by the policy. Regardless, that policy was the rule that Manfred applied in his suspension of Familia.

While the discipline is acceptable for Familia, as he isn’t appealing the suspension, it sets a bad precedent in that Manfred has been given a lot of wiggle room in not only the application of this rule but his power to enforce it as he sees fit as well.

The next time a player engages in inappropriate behavior off the field, it seems all that is necessary for Manfred to call upon the powers granted him in this policy is for a person he is romantically involved with to be somewhere in the physical vicinity of the player. Whether the inappropriate behavior actually harms that person or is even directed at that person or not seems to be irrelevant. If they are around at that time, Manfred can deem it domestic violence and suspend the player.

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This is the second time in less than two months that the MLBPA has given up some power to the owners. In February, Manfred revealed that the new collective bargaining agreement gives the owners the power to make rule changes without the agreement of the MLBPA as early as next season.

Perhaps Manfred and the owners have been emboldened by the 2nd Circuit Court decision in favor of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the “Deflategate” drama. Perhaps the MLBPA has grown shortsighted in its vision, valuing money over power. Maybe what fans are seeing is a combination of those two factors.

It’s true that MLB players are compensated better than professional athletes in other sports. That trend may decrease if the union keeps ceding leverage away to the owners, however. Whether or not Familia deserved to be suspended isn’t the issue in this matter. What’s at stake now for the MLBPA is the preservation of its power as a union, and keeping Manfred from acquiring the godlike power that Goodell wields in the NFL.