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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell accepted a 40-game suspension Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy after a series of allegations made by his ex-wife.Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the ban and said MLB had completed its investigation into the accusations made by Melisa Reidy. Russell has denied the allegations http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-wieters-jersey , which Reidy detailed in a blog post in September.Russell’s unpaid suspension includes the 11 regular-season games he missed after being placed on administrative leave Sept. 21. Russell will be eligible to return on May 3 against St. Louis, barring any postponements, and he will not appeal the suspension. He will also participate in an evaluation and treatment program.Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he’s not sure what the odds are of Russell playing another game for the Cubs.“Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” he said. “Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. The discipline in a case like this is part of the solution going forward and so we support Major League Baseball’s decision and we think it’s appropriate. But prevention is also a big part of the solution and maybe a more important solution.”The Cubs’ season ended Tuesday with a 2-1, 13-inning defeat to the Colorado Rockies in the NL wild-card game. Russell was not active for the game.MLB has said it began an investigation last year after allegations against Russell first became public.Reidy posted a photo on her Instagram account last year with a caption suggesting her husband of about 18 months had been unfaithful to her. In another post, a user described by Reidy as a close friend claimed Russell had “hit” his wife. The post was later deleted. Reidy declined to talk to MLB at the time because she decided it was not in her family’s best interests, her attorney, Thomas Field Joe Blanton Jersey , said last year. But MLB kept the case open.Reidy published a blog post in September describing more detailed allegations, including years of physical and emotional abuse. Less than 12 hours later, MLB announced Russell had been put on leave under MLB’s domestic violence policy.“The physical stuff wasn’t like every day or every month,” Reidy told Chicago’s WGN-TV in an interview that aired Wednesday night. “Fights started getting worse. He broke my phone in half with his hands.”WGN reported that Reidy provided texts and pictures to MLB for its investigation. Reidy said she wrote the blog post because she felt the time was right. She said she wanted to support other women in similar situations and wasn’t thinking about baseball and how it would impact the Cubs.“I know how hard it is to go through something like that,” she said. “And I know how hard it is to feel trapped and alone and distant.”She said some Cubs’ wives knew “bits and pieces” of what she was experiencing but not the whole story.Epstein, meanwhile, said he’s wondering if there’s anything more the organization can do to support players and their families.“The part I do question myself on in general as a sports team is what is the absolute best structure that you can have for your players, for their spouses and for their families so that this never happens?” Epstein said. “I know we have a wonderful family program and we have wonderful people working for support. We try to stay as engaged as possible with the families. But clearly, because this happened Howie Kendrick Jersey , we should all be asking, ‘Can we do more?'”Epstein said it’s the Cubs’ “obligation” to give both Reidy and Russell the support they need. He also said the organization needs to see if there’s more it can do to support players and families and make sure a similar situation does not come up in the future.The Cubs have been willing to employ players following suspensions under the domestic violence policy before. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman served a 30-game ban with the Yankees in 2016 before Chicago acquired him midseason and utilized him to end a 106-year World Series title drought.Chicago acquired Russell in a July 2014 trade with Oakland. He helped the Cubs win the World Series two years ago, batting .238 with 21 homers and 95 RBIs in 151 games.Russell hit .250 with five homers and 38 RBIs in 130 games this season.“I think we have to understand that with all of our words and actions going forward, whether we know it or not, we’re sending messages to our fans who all have their own unique backgrounds and histories and sensitivities and perspectives, and that’s important,” Epstein said. “I honestly, personally, think the most important thing going forward is to be part of the solution and making this a better place.” The Philadelphia Phillies and free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper are nearing an agreement on a contract Sean Doolittle Jersey , USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday.The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reported in November the Washington Nationals had put a 10-year deal on the table that would approach $300 million. According to Nightengale, Harper "will ultimately receive more" from Philadelphia than Washington's last offer.MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Harper has "multiple" offers that are worth more than $30 million per year, and while the Phillies are the favorites, there is an "evolving" market.Earlier Sunday Heyman reported that in addition to the Phillies, the Nationals, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and "multiple mystery teams" have yet to be informed a decision has been made.Although they finished 80-82 and ended up 10 games behind the National League East champion Atlanta Braves, the Phillies are seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough. Principal owner John Middleton said the team was prepared to spend big this offseason to supplement its young core."We're going into this expecting to spend money http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-wilmer-difo-jersey ," he said in November, per Nightengale. "And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. We just prefer not to be completely stupid."While Middleton didn't explicitly reference Harper or fellow superstar Manny Machado, many expected Philadelphia to make a major push for one or both players. Machado visited with the Phillies in December, and Harper met a contingent from the team in January.The Phillies have already acquired J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura and signed Andrew McCutchen, so they have been active this winter. General manager Matt Klentak made the case that failing to land Harper or Machado wouldn't represent a clear loss, per Philly.com's Matt Breen:"I'm really pleased with the fact that I believe that we've put our best foot forward with these guys so far. I'm really pleased with the rest of our offseason. That's why I really want to try to temper the notion that a failure to sign one of these big free agents renders this a bad offseason. We've had an objectively excellent offseason, in my opinion. That doesn't mean we're going to stop trying. We're going to keep pushing."Fans may beg to differ, especially given how long Harper and Machado remain unsigned.Negotiations between Harper and Philadelphia may still fall apart since nothing is finalized. But Nightengale's report is the firmest indicator yet that the six-time All-Star is close to finding a new team.