Yankees pitcher won’t be charged in domestic violence incident with girlfriend

Prosecutors in South Florida have elected not to file domestic-violence charges against New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman was under investigation for an Oct. 30 incident with his girlfriend, 22-year-old Cristina Barnea, after the couple got into an argument.

"We are all pleased that the Davie Police Department and the Office of the State Attorney took the time to fully investigate the matter and have concluded that charges were not warranted," Chapman's lawyer, Paul Molle, told the Sun Sentinel.

According to a police report, Barnea stated that Chapman pushed and choked her. Chapman eventually retrieved a gun and fired eight shots into a wall and window.

Chapman's version of events was that there wasn't an argument and that he was pushed by Barnea's brother.

Prosecutors decided that the conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence made a conviction unlikely.

Chapman was a member of the Cincinnati Reds at the time of the incident. When details emerged, a proposed trade to the Cincinnati Reds disintegrated.

Chapman was later traded to the New York Yankees and could face punishment under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner staunchly defended Chapman earlier this week, says he is "innocent until proven otherwise."

The Yankees sent right-handers Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda to Cincinnati to acquire the four-time All-Star reliever.