Cardinals, Reds players receive fines and suspensions after kerfuffle

Nick Castellanos was suspended and many Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals players were fined after Saturday’s incident.

Major League Baseball handed out punishments for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals kerfuffle on Saturday.

They were rather, uh, interesting.

Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for his “aggressive actions and for instigating a benches-clearing incident” in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, pitchers Jordan Hicks and Yadier Molina, along with Reds infielder Eugenio Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker were fined undisclosed amounts for their roles in the on-field incidents.

I, like many, do not understand why Castellanos was suspended. Sure, he instigated a benches clearing incident. But there were no punches thrown and Jake Woodford, who hit Castellanos with a pitch, was not fined or suspended. Castellanos, simply, was suspended for an action that happens on a nightly basis in the NBA — a damning sign for the current state of baseball culture.

Castellanos should not have been suspended. Fined, yes. But nothing more than that. And Reds manager David Bell seems to agree, via C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic: “I am disappointed that Nick was suspended even though he did not initiate physical contact. I am hopeful that when baseball is played with emotion, the players will be protected from dangerous and unnecessary retaliation.”

Castellanos is appealing the suspension and should have his suspension reduced or even rescinded. But the incident should have little to no impact on the Reds or Cardinals moving forward. But this is the first of many series featuring the two teams this season. We are only three games into the new year. Their upcoming matchups, especially come playoff time, could get spicy.

Get your popcorn ready.