No charges issued against Salazar

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Police Department has informed the Indians that pitcher Danny Salazar will not be charged following an investigation into a sexual assault complaint.

The City Prosecutor examined the evidence involved in the case on Wednesday and no charges were issued. The case is now considered closed for Salazar, who will be competing for a spot in the Indians' starting rotation this spring.

On Wednesday evening, the Cleveland Police Department issued the following statement: "Detectives presented the case involving rape allegations with the suspect being Danny Salazar to the City Prosecutor's Office today and no charges were issued against Mr. Salazar."

The incident that was being investigated by police occurred in the early-morning hours of Jan. 22 in Cleveland, while many of the team's players were in town for the organization's annual Tribe Fest event that took place on Jan. 24-25 at Progressive Field. Roberto Perez was with Salazar at the time of the incident, but the catcher was not under investigation.

The 25-year-old Salazar, who lives in his native Dominican Republic for most of the offseason, is currently training at the team's spring complex in Goodyear, Ariz. The right-hander heads into Spring Training as a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, competing against T.J. House, Zach McAllister and Josh Tomlin for that job.

Last year, Salazar went 6-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts for Cleveland, striking out 120 batters in 110 innings. In 2013, the righty posted a 3.12 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 52 innings (10 starts) for the Tribe and took the mound as the team's starter in that season's American League Wild Card Game.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported that Salazar was under investigation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti issued a statement saying that the team was aware of the investigation, but that the Indians "won't have any additional comment at this time."