Dodgers suspend Erisbel Arruebarrena for rest of the season
Dodgers infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena turns a double play during a game against the
The Dodgers have been baseball’s biggest investors in Cuban talent in recent years, but no two signings have worked out exactly the same. And now one has taken a bad turn.
The Dodgers announced in a terse, one-sentence release Thursday they had suspended infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena for the rest of the season for “repeated failures to comply with his contract.”
No further explanation was given for the disciplinary action. Arruebarrena, who signed a five-year, $25-million contract before the start of last season, will not be paid by the Dodgers while suspended.
Arruebarrena, 25, played at five different levels in the organization last season. He played 22 games with the Dodgers, and mostly was used as a late-inning defensive replacement for Hanley Ramirez at shortstop. He hit only .195 (eight for 41).
He has not played a game at any level this season.
In the off-season he was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, removed from the 40-man roster and assigned to their triple-A roster. He played sparingly in the spring, hitting .143 (two for 14). He remained at the team’s spring training complex in Phoenix for extended spring training when camp broke and reportedly resisted a minor-league assignment.
Last season, the Pacific Coast League handed him a five-game suspension for instigating a brawl in July between triple-A Albuquerque and Reno.
Follow Steve Dilbeck on Twitter @SteveDilbeck
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