Baseball Talks to Consider Contraction

Baseball Owners Meet to Consider Elimination of Weakest Teams

Labor negotiations also take center stage in two-day gathering

Pittsburgh, June 15, 2001 -- According to a report in USA Today, the owners meetings in Pittsburgh taking place June 13th and 14th focused on labor negotiations and the possibility of team contraction. It quoted baseball commissioner Bud Selig as saying: "we have a tremendous amount of business to discuss, but I don't expect any action to be taken on any item. This is strictly an informational meeting." Reportedly, MLB Chief Operating Officer, Paul Beeston and labor attorney Rob Manfred updated owners on talks for a new collective bargaining agreement with the players' union . Significantly, it notes that Selig, "once opposed to the concept [of contraction], now embraces it."

Contraction, or the elimination of teams from Major League Baseball, has become a hot topic with the horrible records and low attendance that some teams are experiencing this year. When it comes to whether contraction would be good or bad for baseball, it seems like everyone has an opinion:

1. Baseball guru Peter Gammons has reported on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight that "the possibility of contracting the Angels has been "discussed among the owners. Disney has been trying to sell the Angels for two, three, four years (with) no luck. What they could do is fold the Angels, but they could still have a team in Anaheim if the A's move there. It sounds a little crazy, but it's something the owners have talked about. The only problem is, I don't count the Angels out of (the AL wild card race)"

2. The AP's Ronald Blum cites several owners as saying that the Devil Rays, Marlins and Expos, all "struggling at the box office and on the field," are the "most likely candidates" for contraction or relocation. But Blum adds local politicians will "fight to keep the teams, even if that means lengthy and costly lawsuits." Blum quotes Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth, on the tactic of using lawsuits as a means of retaining teams: "That is the strongest tool we have. I'd be glad to use that quiver in my arrow or any other tool I can find."

3. Mike Berardino of the Orlando Sentinel writes that "based on conversations with numerous labor sources, no one from the ownership side has broached the issue of contraction with the (Major League Baseball Players' Association). However, it was reported that Expos players "reportedly heard whispers that two teams will be eliminated before next season, with the Expos at the top of the list." Also, Braves MLB Players Association representative Tom Glavine said of contraction, "All indications are they're serious, at least about exploring the possibility. We're going to wait and see if they come up with a consensus or a plan, and we'll take if from there."

Sources:
Hall Bodley, USA TODAY, June 12, 2001
Baseball Tonight ESPN, June 11, 2001
Associated Press, June 12, 2001
FoxSports.com, June 11, 2001
Orlando Sentinel, June 12, 2001

Matthew Roberts