The Bronx Stop: A Yankees Blog

Via Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News:

Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan both had their suspensions reduced by one game Friday by Major League Baseball in a deal that will allow the Yankees to play their entire weekend series against Tampa Bay just one player short instead of two.

Cabrera and Duncan both agreed to drop their appeals of the suspensions, which sprung from the bench-clearing, near brawl with the Rays during spring training, in exchange for the suspensions dropping from three games to two. As part of the deal, the Yankees were able to stagger the suspensions - Cabrera's begins Friday night and Duncan's is slated to begin Sunday.

Not having the suspensions at the same time "is pretty important," Duncan said.

Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes, who was suspended for two games for tackling Duncan, had his suspension reduced to one game. He will serve the suspension on Friday night. The players were fined, too - Duncan $3,000 and Cabrera $2,500 - but the fines were not reduced.