Mets player Edwin Díaz will not appeal 10-game suspension after being ejected for foreign object

New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has decided not to appeal his 10-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s rules regarding the use of foreign substances by pitchers.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo delivered the news from Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on Tuesday as the team prepared for a two-game home series against the cross-town rival New York Yankees.

“We want to get over it,” Mendoza said after a reporter asked why Díaz had not appealed. “We don’t want these shadows to hang over the team for too long. And we decided that’s the best thing.”

Díaz was ejected before throwing a pitch in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 road victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Crew chief Vic Carapazza ejected Díaz after conducting a routine check for foreign substances.

In the ESPN broadcast (h/t Awful Announcing), a dark brown substance appeared to be visible on Díaz’s thumb and fingers.

Both Díaz and Carapazza subsequently commented on the matter, with the Closer claiming the substance was “rosin, sweat and dirt.”

Since the introduction of new MLB guidelines three years ago, an ejection for foreign substances automatically results in a ten-game suspension.

Díaz will now sit out until July 5, missing games against the New York Yankees (two), Houston Astros (three), Washington Nationals (four) and Pittsburgh Pirates (one).

Mendoza told reporters that the team will “mix and match” in filling Díaz’s spot in the meantime.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to switch some things around here, but we’re just going to have to take it game by game,” Mendoza said. “See where you are in the bullpen and go from there. The good thing is we have depth. We have guys with options and we’ll get through it.”

Notable options include Reed Garrett, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith and Jake Diekman.