Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Players Association stands by complaint
Official: Revenue sharing at issue in grievance
The Major League Baseball Players Association hasn’t backed down from accusing three teams, including the Miami Marlins, of failing to appropriately spend revenuesharing money.
On Friday, Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLBPA, said he stands by the decision to file a grievance against the Marlins, Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates.
“I won’t specifically offer you anything with regards to the grievance other than to confirm that it happened,” Clark said. “I will simply offer that there are obligations in the CBA that relate to revenue sharing. In the past when we’ve had concerns, and now when we have concerns, we have looked forward to having conversations about those obligations.”
In an effort to reduce payroll, the Marlins traded Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich since last October. Even with the moves, the Marlins are projected to begin this season with the third-highest payroll in franchise history.
Still, Clark said there are some concerns.
“When you have concerns about the obligations you believe a team has, you look to sit down and have a conversation about how they manifested themselves,” Clark said. “With an industry that’s growing, with values that are growing, and against the backdrop of questions that arise as a result of how teams are functioning, it’s worthwhile to have a conversation about how we move forward from here.”
The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have used similar tactics to lower payroll only to increase it later. Both teams eventually won the World Series a few years after but were never accused of failing to appropriately spend revenuesharing money.
“To the extent that there were teams that went through difficult stretches without tearing down their team to do it, those were two teams that did,” Clark said. “That’s a little different conversation than how or where we find some of the other teams that are now a part of the conversation. So while I know it’s been bantered about that we’re simply going to follow the Houston model or the Cubs’ model.
“When there’s a little deeper dive, it’s not quite as simple as suggesting we’re going to lose a bunch of games, we’re going to get a bunch of top draft picks, we’re going to make a few trades, bring in a few veterans, and we’re going to win the World Series.”
The Marlins are still adjusting to a change in ownership. Last August Jeffrey Loria sold the team to a group that included former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and New York businessman Bruce Sherman.
“We’ll have to see where they’re headed,” Clark said. “At this point, we have seen what has happened since the transition and will be very interested to appreciate more where the organization is headed, if for no other reason how it affects the players, but how it affects the industry as a whole.”
Roster moves
The Marlins optioned pitcher James Needy and catcher Austin Nola to Triple-A New Orleans and pitchers Merandy Gonzalez, Pablo Lopez and Miguel Del Pozo to Double-A Jacksonville. They also reassigned catcher Rodrigo Vigil, pitchers Tyler Cloyd, Zac Gallen, Trevor Richards, Nick Neidert and Ben Meyer and infielders Johnny Giavotella and Jonathan Rodriguez and outfielder Monte Harrison to Minor League camp.
Mattingly optimistic
Manager Don Mattingly said he expects third baseman Martin Prado and shortstop JT Riddle to be ready for the season opener March 29 against the Cubs.
Prado (knee) and Riddle (shoulder) are recovering from offseason surgeries.
“We expect [Prado] to be close,” Mattingly said. “I think that’s the thing. We feel like it’s going to be close. Riddle is in the same boat. We think he’ll be close.”
Realmuto sidelined
Catcher J.T. Realmuto was a late scratch from Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. He was held out because of a left knee contusion.