Juan Carlos Oviedo’s MLB ban will be eight weeks, not six
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The news keeps getting worse for Marlins reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo, who
continues to deal with the consequences of using a false identity.
Major League Baseball, which privately informed involved parties last month
that it planned to give Oviedo a six-week suspension upon his return to the
United States, has changed plans and decided to make the ban eight weeks,
according to an MLB source.
The suspension is not retroactive and will not start until Oviedo returns to
the United States after receiving a visa. MLB officials are unsure when
Oviedo will get a visa. Oviedo, who remains in the Dominican Republic, hoped
to receive a visa by early March but was told he must first complete
community service.
Here’s why the suspension was increased: If Oviedo had received a visa
before spring training, MLB planned to suspend him for two weeks of spring
training and six weeks of the regular season.
But because he missed spring training, MLB decided recently to add those two
weeks to the six weeks. Oviedo had been led to believe the suspension would
be only six weeks, a teammate said. During his suspension, Oviedo will be
permitted to participate in extended spring training.
The Marlins envisioned using Oviedo, formerly Leo Nunez, as a set-up man for
closer Heath Bell, who has two saves but has blown three. Nunez will not
receive any of his $6 million salary until his suspension is over.
MLB and the Marlins have declined to comment about the matter.