Source: MLB reduces Contreras ban to 5 games

Source: MLB reduces Contreras ban to 5 gamesBoston Red Sox12mVolpe denies 'BS' report that he refused SS moveNew York Yankees5h'Time has come': Verlander to retire after seasonDetroit Tigers1dAlden GonzalezCardinals' Walker confirmed for Home Run DerbySt. Louis Cardinals2hBlue Jays' Cease loses no-hit bid in 9th to GiantsToronto Blue Jays20hTrout comes off IL, hits 2-run HR to help AngelsLos Angeles Angels18hBrewers find new injury to Woodruff's shoulderMilwaukee Brewers17hMattingly interested in managing Phillies full timePhiladelphia Phillies19hMLB Power Rankings: Where every team stands heading into the All-Star breakArizona Diamondbacks7hESPNThe perfect trade deadline addition for every MLB contenderTampa Bay Rays7hJeff PassanUpdated ranking of MLB's top 100 trade deadline candidates -- and potential landing spotsArizona Diamondbacks3dKiley McDaniel and Jeff PassanMLB Power Rankings: Where every team stands heading into the All-Star breakArizona Diamondbacks7hESPNWe won't see a pitcher like Justin Verlander againDetroit Tigers23hBradford DoolittleFirst-half MVPs for all 30 MLB teamsArizona Diamondbacks1dBradford DoolittleHow many A's? And WHO got the highest mark?!

Midseason grades for all 30 MLB teamsArizona Diamondbacks2dDavid SchoenfieldFinal 2026 MLB draft rankings: Top 250 prospectsArizona Diamondbacks1dKiley McDaniel2026 MLB draft guide: One big question and latest intel for all 30 teamsArizona Diamondbacks3dKiley McDaniel'I normally don't hit .220 for 80 games': Can Kyle Tucker turn his season around in the second half?Los Angeles Dodgers1dAlden Gonzalez2026 MLB All-Star Game rosters: Snubs, other takeawaysBoston Red Sox5dDavid Schoenfield2026 MLB All-Star Weekend: Rosters and everything you need to know5dESPNMcGonigle a top-10 hitter?

Cy Young for Wheeler? Don't be surprised!7hEric KarabellFantasy baseball: Dump Dansby?

Get some Guardians? Second-half moves to win it all1dTristan H. CockcroftESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsJul 9, 2026, 02:14 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBoston Red Sox first baseman/designated hitter Willson Contreras has had his suspension reduced from seven games to five games, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers, and he will be eligible to participate in the All-Star Game.

Contreras had appealed the suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl against the Washington Nationals on June 30.Contreras will begin serving his suspension Thursday, meaning he'll have one more game to sit out after the All-Star break. He left Wednesday's game with a foot injury.

The 34-year-old slugger was named to the American League All-Star team as a replacement and he also will participate in the Home Run Derby if he's healthy enough to do so. He is batting .285 with 61 RBIs this season and has 20 homers in 306 at-bats, which stands just a few shy of the career best of 24 he had for the Chicago Cubs in 2019.

Contreras was originally suspended seven games for charging the mound after Nationals starter Cade Cavalli shouted "sit down, boy" at Contreras after striking him out looking with a full-count pitch.The term "boy" has a racist history in the United States. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, demurred when asked after the game if he felt there was a racial component to Cavalli's word choice, adding that he plans to "let MLB handle that."

A few words were exchanged after the initial incident, and Contreras was stopped before he got to Cavalli, but he tried to throw his helmet over a group of players at Cavalli.Cavalli also received a seven-game suspension that has been reduced to five after his appeal.Washington pitcher Miles Mikolas (five-game ban) and Boston outfielder Nate Eaton (three games) were also disciplined for their roles in the brawl.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: MLB reduces Contreras ban to 5 gamesBoston Red Sox12mVolpe denies 'BS' report that he refused SS moveNew York Yankees5h'Time has come': Verlander to retire after seasonDetroit Tigers1dAlden GonzalezCardinals' Walker confirmed for Home Run DerbySt. Louis Cardinals2hBlue Jays' Cease loses no-hit bid in 9th to GiantsToronto Blue Jays20hTrout comes off IL, hits 2-run HR to help AngelsLos Angeles Angels18hBrewers find new injury to Woodruff's shoulderMilwaukee Brewers17hMattingly interested in managing Phillies full timePhiladelphia Phillies19hMLB Power Rankings: Where every team stands heading into the All-Star breakArizona Diamondbacks7hESPNThe perfect trade deadline addition for every MLB contenderTampa Bay Rays7hJeff PassanUpdated ranking of MLB's top 100 trade deadline candidates -- and potential landing spotsArizona Diamondbacks3dKiley McDaniel and Jeff PassanMLB Power Rankings: Where every team stands heading into the All-Star breakArizona Diamondbacks7hESPNWe won't see a pitcher like Justin Verlander againDetroit Tigers23hBradford DoolittleFirst-half MVPs for all 30 MLB teamsArizona Diamondbacks1dBradford DoolittleHow many A's?

And WHO got the highest mark?! Midseason grades for all 30 MLB t