Mariners' Jesus Montero suspended for season after altercation
The Seattle Marinershave placed DH/catcher Jesus Montero on the suspended list for the remainder of the season after Montero got into an altercation Thursday with a senior scout during a minor league game.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Friday that Montero's season was over and that he would be put in a program to address his off-field issues, according to The Seattle Times.
“This incident is of the magnitude that either party should have been more under control,’’ Zduriencik said. “Either party should have been more professional. You just don’t get to this point and say neither is to blame or who is to cast the blame. It doesn’t really matter.
“There are always two sides to every story. In the end, I would view this as saying both parties are wrong.”
The altercation reportedly involved an ice cream sandwich.
Montero played only six games with the Mariners this season.
The Yankees traded the former top prospect to the Mariners in 2012 for starter Michael Pineda. Montero batted .260 and hit 15 home runs and 62 RBI in his first season with Seattle, but his production dipped in 2013, and he suffered a knee injury after being sent down to the minor leagues. The 23-year-old was also suspended 50 games after being implicated in the Biogenesis scandal.
Montero also showed up to spring training this year overweight.
The Mariners opened Monday at 73-62, a half-game back of Detroit in the AL Wild Card race.
- Chris Johnson
