Nationals release Starlin Castro as domestic violence suspension ends

Starlin Castro has been released by the Washington Nationals after completing a 30-game suspension for an alleged domestic violence incident, according to The Athletic.

The former Yankees infielder was suspended on July 30 by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred after an investigation concluded that he violated the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

The Nationals said in a statement at the time that they “take all allegations of abuse and harassment very seriously” and that Castro would be released upon completion of the ban.

Details of the alleged incident have not been revealed since the 31-year-old Castro initially was placed on administrative leave by MLB on July 16.

“You asked the question, do I plan on having Starlin Castro back? And I say I do not plan on that,” Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said in July. “I was surprised. I was angered by it. I was pissed off by it. It’s something that cannot happen. It should not happen. It will not happen with the Washington Nationals, otherwise we’ll fix it.”

The four-time All-Star played for the Yankees in 2016 and 2017 before he was included in the trade with the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton.