NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The players' association has filed a grievance over the Washington Nationals' four-game suspension of Jonathan Papelbon that followed the pitcher's fight with teammate Bryce Harper.
The grievance was filed shortly after the suspension was announced Sept. 28, costing Papelbon $284,153 of his $13 million salary.
"That's business. It's not personal between Papelbon and the Nationals, or Nationals to Papelbon," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said Monday.
Unless settled or withdrawn, the grievance would be heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, most likely during spring training.
On the next-to-last weekend of the season, Harper flied out and headed to the dugout, where he and Papelbon exchanged words.