MLBPA claims 4 clubs didn’t spend enough

The MLB Players Association filed a grievance against the Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, accusing the teams of failing to appropriately spend revenue-sharing money.

Union spokesman Chris Dahl, speaking Tuesday at the union’s training camp for free agents, said the grievance was filed Friday. Union head Tony Clark declined to comment.

“We have received the complaint and believe it has no merit,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.

If not settled, the case would go to a hearing before Mark Irvings, baseball’s independent arbitrator.

Pittsburgh traded star Andrew McCutchen and ace Gerrit Cole. Team president Frank Coonelly called the grievance “patently baseless” and said the team spent revenue-sharing money consistent with the rules in baseball’s labour contract.

“Our revenue-sharing receipts have decreased for seven consecutive seasons while our major league payroll has more than doubled over this same period,” Coonelly said in a statement.

Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement states “each club shall use its revenue-sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field” and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise acquisition and service to debt not related to improving on-field performance.

The Marlins traded Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich since Bruce Sherman’s ownership group bought the team in October.

“We will continue to do everything we can to build a foundation for sustained success and improve this organization,” Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said in a statement.

Tampa Bay traded Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr., Jake Odorizzi and Corey Dickerson.

“I think we’re beyond what compliance is,” Rays owner Stu Sternberg said.