Report: New Ray Aybar in jail

Newly acquired infielder Willy Aybar is jailed in his native Dominican Republic on domestic violence charges and could remain there for several months, a prosecutor told espndeportes.com.
Aybar has been held without bail since Thursday for allegedly assaulting his wife in Baní, according to the report by the Spanish-language arm of ESPN.
Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said the team did not yet have enough details to comment.
"Aybar is in jail since last week, and he could spend at least three more months in jail if he is convicted of domestic violence," Jesus Fernandez Velez, the appeals court prosecutor in charge, told espndeportes.com reporter Enrique Rojas.
There is some discussion that Aybar's wife may withdraw the complaint, but had not done so yet, the report said.
Aybar was acquired in January from Atlanta, and came with a troubled past that included going AWOL from the Braves last season and spending three months in rehab for substance-abuse problems, which his agent initially told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was "drinking and drugs." Between the off-field troubles and a right hand injury which eventually required surgery, Aybar missed all of last season. He had been playing for Licey in the Dominican Republic.
The Rays are counting on Aybar to play a key role, potentially as the starting third baseman for the first few months of the season if prospect Evan Longoria is deemed not ready, and then as a "super utility" player, filling in at first, second, third and the outfield.
At the time of the trade, in which the Rays gave up LHP Jeff Ridgway (and also got prospect Chase Fontaine), executive VP Andrew Friedman said the Rays felt Aybar's problems were behind him: "We did a lot of due diligence into his problems from last year, and while we recognize it's a risk, obviously we felt it's a risk worth taking. We've seen him play a lot in the Dominican Republic, and we've talked to a lot of people that have been affiliated with him throughout his career and that are around him now, and we feel that the upside is definitely worth it."

Comments

[J]

Wife beater and drug abuser? This is the type of player the new Rays want? And the Rays want to possibly send Longoria back to the minors? What a joke! How about sending Aybar back to where he came from.

[Jeff]

Dukes was a Hazard.
Now Aybar is behind bars!
Quick, add some stripes to the new shirts.

[Kevin]

OK seriously, the guy is an idiot if he did what he's accused of. But hammering the Rays for taking a shot for him? Anybody remember what they traded for this guy? The equivelent of a case of beer and a can of peanuts. They took a cheap gamble and it looks like they lost. Big deal. The Rays as an organization are still moving in the right direction even if this move ended up backfiring on them a little bit.

[john]

Okay, so now we string the baseball's most wanted from the super post lightning rod high above Al Lang field. Why is anyone considering the glorious out door stadium anymore. Super L is more like it.

[Bradley Mofsky]

I guess this was an attempt to aquaire another Eli Dukes type problematic player.There better off without him,anything to get a bargain.Pay a good player andf you won't get burned!We can find another player I am sure who is respectable.Sue the Braves and void the trade!

[the judge]

let's see--ther was Toe Nash, Josh Hamilton, Elijah Dukes....did our scouts used to be probation officers?

[Mike]

The Rays sure can pick them. They'll never make it to the majors this way.

[CharlieRay]

I go with the first option starting Longoria on opening day. It's His to earn, It's His time, It's His shot, It's His responsibility and It's His will. Give him His day. Send Aybar to the Nationals. They are set up for this kind of player.

[Sean]

Why is everyone giving the rays crap for this move? He wasn't slotted to be our starting 3rd basemen. He was going to fight for a spot on the team.

The releiver we gave up for this guy sucked. We got a much better talent who might just not see the field fo a bit.

Julio Lugo is a wife beater as well and everyone gave the Rays crap for not resigning him. Shut up and be a fan....go Rays

[Ryan S]

Sean, well said buddy. He was fighting for a utility role with the club, not a starting job. You gotta love all these Rays haters who have been sitting around waiting for something to talk about. THIS IS NEW OWNERSHIP who has done nothing but good things for this team and city. GO RAYS and all you Rays haters (I mean Yanks & Sox fans) will be eating crow this year. We wont finish ahead of Boston and maybe not NY but this team is laugher NO MORE!

GO RAYS!