Yordano Ventura accepts eight-game suspension for role in Baltimore brawl

Punitive measures have finally been enacted against Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura for his role in a benches-clearing brawl in Baltimore earlier this month.

According to a report by Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com on Saturday, Ventura has dropped his suspension appeal and agreed to take an eight-game ban. The agreement is said to be part of a deal negotiated by Ventura’s agent, the MLB, and the MLBPA wherein Ventura’s suspension would be reduced by one game if he dropped the appeal.

Yordano Ventura has agreed to take an 8-game suspension. Drops appeal #Royals

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) June 18, 2016

It was negotiated among Yordano Ventura's agent, MLB and the MLBPA that if he dropped appeal, MLB would lower suspension one game. #Royals

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) June 18, 2016

Ventura, of course, was involved in a June 7 incident where he beaned Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, leading to Machado charging the mound and both benches emptying (video here). The 25-year-old flamethrower was initially handed a nine-game suspension for the skirmish, but proceeded to make his next two starts as he appealed the punishment.

The Dominican will begin serving the ban on Saturday, but it will only cost him one turn in the rotations. This may come across as a mere slap on the wrist for Ventura, especially given his status as a repeat offender. But with Ventura posting an underwhelming 4.54 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 6.7 K/9 through 14 starts this season, it probably won’t matter much from a pure baseball standpoint either way (if he even stays in Kansas City much longer).

H/T Baseball Reddit