MLBPA Challenges Contraction

Alleges owners broke promises; arbitration likely

New York, November 10, 2001 -- The Major League Baseball Players' Association filed a grievance challenging the owners' attempt to eliminate two teams, claiming that the actions violated provisions in the collective barraging agreement. It is likely that an arbitrator will have to decide the claim.

According to the New York Times, Gene Orza, the union's chief legal counsel, stated that baseball management had previously informed him that it was "too late in the year" to eliminate teams. And if the owners go ahead and do so, which is expected in a meeting on December 15, the questions about the contracts of players on those teams will have to be resolved, either by agreement or by arbitration.

The arbitration will have to decide if the owners can unilaterally take action to reduce the number of teams from 30 to 28. If that is the case, it is expected that a draft will disperse most of the players, but not everyone. Since players generally have guaranteed contracts, the issue of whether these players will be paid for the unexpired terms is in dispute.

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