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Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward has been suspended for a game, and pitcher Ian Gibaut had been suspended for three games, it was announced today. Gibaut threw behind Manny Machado yesterday one batter after Fernando Tatis, Jr., hit a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch from Juan Nicasio to give the San Diego Padres a 14-4 lead last night. Woodward said after the game that Tatis broke the unwritten rules by swinging 3-0 in a blow out, which has prompted the expected mockery from Baseball Twitter.
Woodward is serving his suspension today, with Don Wakamatsu filling in as interim manager. Gibaut is appealing his suspension. Nicasio, meanwhile, has been removed from the roster and placed on the restricted list due to “personal reasons,” per the Rangers. Luis Garcia, a righthander who was in camp and at the Alternate Team Site on a minor league deal, has been added to the 28 man and 40 man roster to replace Nicasio. Garcia, 33, spent last year in the Angels bullpen, and has a career 4.17 ERA in 306.2 IP, mostly with the Phillies.
Nicasio reportedly asked for time off to return home to the Dominican Republic and spend time with his family. He’s made around $30 million in his career, turns 34 soon, and is coming off a pair of bad seasons in 2018-19. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s weighing retirement at this point.