The Nationals announced today that they’ve suspended Jonathan Papelbon for choking Bryce Harper in a dugout argument during their game against the Phillies yesterday.
The Washington Nationals released a statement saying he will be suspended for four games without pay, which means he’s out for the rest of the season:
The Washington Nationals have suspended RHP Jonathan Papelbon: pic.twitter.com/KYKHvllsaw
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2015
A campaign among fans to cut Papelbon picked up steam on Twitter this morning. Deadspin calls him, “a very good closer and an unrepentant asshole with a knack for pissing off his own teammates as much as his opponents.” And that was before the Harper incident.
USA Today’s For The Win notes that cutting him might not be easy but it may be worth it, “If they release him, the Nationals will have to eat a sizable contract — but that might be a better option than keeping a player who appears to have poisoned the clubhouse.”
Here’s video of the brawl in case you missed it the first round:
