Maxwell reaches plea agreement for incident

April 13th, 2018
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell against the San Francisco Giants during a spring baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Jeff Chiu/AP

SEATTLE -- A's catcher is one step closer to putting his legal issues behind him.
Maxwell on Friday reached a plea agreement with the state of Arizona, pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. He will be sentenced June 4 to probation and community service.
"It looks like we're getting toward the end of this thing," A's manager Bob Melvin said, "and I know it's a big weight on his shoulder, but he's going through the proper steps to take care of this and move on, so hopefully that's the case."
The case dates to Nov. 7, when Maxwell was indicted by a grand jury on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after allegedly pointing a gun at a food delivery worker outside of his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., in October.
Maxwell originally hoped to reach a plea deal during his first settlement conference on Feb. 12, but he was unable to do so. He returned to court Friday morning, before joining the team in Seattle.
"It was a good relief for me, probably a good relief for this organization," Maxwell said. "It's something, obviously, a misinterpretation. Accidents happen. So it's always in the back of my mind every single day I come to the field. It's something that I can put behind me, progress as a person with my judgmental calls and focus on this team."
The A's issued a statement from general manager David Forst following Friday's development.
"I am pleased Bruce has taken responsibility for his actions," Forst said. "We expect our players to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the standards of the Oakland Athletics. His conduct in this incident did not live up to that. We have communicated with him throughout the legal process about our expectations as a representative of the organization. I believe he has already begun the work of making amends for his actions and look forward to his continued positive contributions to our community."
Maxwell, 27, could still face discipline from Major League Baseball.
"I have no idea, honestly," he said. "It's just one of those things I'm thinking about progressing as a person moving forward. All the other stuff is going to take it's toll and it's something that's beyond my control. But at the same time I have to accept anything and everything that comes my way, because it was my judgment, it was my happening that caused this whole fiasco."
Maxwell has played in three games as 's backup this season, collecting three hits in 11 at-bats.
Dull to come off DL
A's reliever , who has been on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, is expected to be activated Saturday. He was already with the A's at Safeco Field on Friday and will likely swap roster spots with right-hander , who suffered a right groin strain in the eighth inning of the club's opener in Seattle.
Worth noting
(hyperextended left knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Stockton on Saturday. The A's plan to have Pinder play in two games with the Ports before reevaluating him.
• Right-hander remains on track to join the A's rotation on Tuesday. Cahill worked 5 2/3 innings for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, allowing three runs on one hit and four walks with seven strikeouts.
"The reports were good," Melvin said. "Used all of his pitches yesterday, got in the upper-80s, supposedly good sink on his fastball."