Latest on Familia: Mets don't know when to expect suspension
By Matthew Cerrone | Jan 11, 2017 | 10:45AM

Latest Update...
Jan. 13 | 8:20AM
Sandy Alderson told reporters Thursday that he does not know when MLB will make a decision about whether to suspend Jeurys Familia, who he assumed will miss at least some period of time during the 2017 season (Rubin, Jan. 12).
Jan. 11 | 10:45AM
Matthew Cerrone | Snapchat | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | About Me
By the time pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 13, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's office will most likely still be conducting its investigation into the allegation that Jeurys Familia committed an act of domestic violence in October 2016.
However, people involved with similar situations told me in December that MLB could find grounds for suspension based entirely on comments made by his wife during the initial 911 call to police.
According to the original police report, Familia's wife acknowledges that she was in a dispute with her husband, he was drunk and "going crazy," she said, according to the Associated Press. The commissioner has the right to rule on the situation as he sees fit regardless of the initial charge.
As a result, Familia is expected to be suspended at least 30 games to start the season, sources told Daily News reporter Kristie Ackert in December.
Familia (27) throws during NL wild card game at Citi Field. (Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports)
Due to the lack of physical evidence in the case, MLB officials anticipate Familia and his representatives might appeal any suspension handed down. However, if he does, MLB could keep him from participating in spring training activity. In the event he doesn't appeal, Familia should be allowed to continue working with his team and play during Grapefruit League games.
Familia is currently pitching for Gigantes del Cibao during the Dominican winter league playoffs. In his last appearance, Sunday, he tossed his second-consecutive perfect inning in relief.
Speaking strictly from an on-field baseball perspective, the good news for the Mets and Familia is that the criminal proceedings have been over for several weeks, which should have allowed plenty of time for Manfred's office to do what it needed to do. In the case of Jose Reyes, as well as Aroldis Chapman, the charges were not dropped until later in the offseason,
In the end, my hunch is MLB will determine Familia violated their policy and should be subject to some sort of discipline. It would not surprise me to see them not hand out a suspension, instead issuing a fine and suggesting treatment. That said, if Ackert is right, and MLB goes to the 30-day level they suspended Chapman, Familia will likely pitch his first game for the Mets this season in early-May.