Yankees' Josh Donaldson gets one-game suspension, placed on COVID-19 IL

On the same day he was placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson received a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball for his comments to White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Saturday, which led to a bench-clearing incident between the teams.

“MLB has completed the process of speaking to the individuals involved in this incident,” Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president of on-field operations, said in a news release late Monday afternoon. “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.”

Donaldson, who was not at the ballpark Monday, plans to appeal the suspension.

During Saturday’s 7-5 victory over the White Sox, Donaldson twice called Anderson “Jackie,” a reference to Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947. After the game, Donaldson said “I thought that was a joke between him and I” because of comments Anderson made in 2019 in a Sports Illustrated story.

“We talked about it before,” said Donaldson, who was confronted by catcher Yasmani Grandal when he batted in the fifth inning Saturday, which brought about the bench-clearing incident (Donaldson and Anderson also had a confrontation earlier in the game). “And as I said, let me mention it again: He’s called himself Jackie Robinson. That’s why I thought it was funny between us.”

Except Anderson and Donaldson have never been close, and the latter had issues with the White Sox in 2021 when he was with the AL Central rival Twins. 

After hitting two home runs in the Yankees’ 6-4 loss to the Orioles on Monday night, Aaron Judge said: “It’s a tough one. Joke or not, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do there, especially given the history, especially the series in Chicago, the beef between Anderson and JD. Anderson’s one of the best shortstops in the game and he’s a big part of MLB and what’s going on here and how we can grow the game. JD, he made a mistake, owned up to it. Now we have to move on.

“He talked to all of us, filled us in on what he was referring to, I guess a 2019 interview that TA did. But still, I just don’t think it was the right move at all. But he got a suspension and it’s time to move on.’’

Can this linger in the clubhouse? “We’re grown men,’’ Judge said. “He stood up, owned up to what he did. That’s all you can ask, especially when we’re playing games every day. You can’t sit here and linger on a loss, you can’t sit here and dwell on something that happened. You have to learn from it. He made a mistake and now it’s time to move on and keep playing baseball.”  

White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz didn’t think the penalty was 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 posted on Twitter.

“In this clubhouse, we have TA’s back in everything,” White Sox closer Liam Hendriks said Sunday. “That was just a completely unacceptable thing, and trying to whip it out as being an inside joke, that’s [expletive]. They don’t have those sorts of things going on. It’s like having an inside joke with a guy who you are a nemesis with, I guess you could say? But that’s not how it went down in this clubhouse, and I don’t understand how he ever thought about it like that. It’s just straight delusional.”

The Yankees could have had Donaldson serve the suspension while he’s out sick, but his decision to appeal eliminated that possibility.

Donaldson is the third Yankee in two days to be put on the COVID IL. Kyle Higashioka and Joey Gallo, both of whom have tested negative, were placed on the list Sunday. “Kind of similar symptoms as those guys,” Boone said of Donaldson.

Miguel Andujar was recalled from the minors to take Donaldson’s spot on the roster.

Chapman to IL?

Boone said closer Aroldis Chapman soon could be headed to the IL, but not because of illness. An MRI of his left Achilles showed no issues structurally, but Boone said “we are treating him [for] Achilles tendinitis,” which he said puts the IL in play. “We’ll make a call there tonight or tomorrow,” he said Monday.

Tough break

Chad Green will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next week. “I think everything happens for a reason,” said Green, who is due to hit free agency after the season. “I try not to look at it like that, ‘oh, you’re losing your one chance [in free agency].”

Green, who will turn 31 on Tuesday, has been among the sport’s most durable and effective relievers since 2017.