Baseball union concerned despite Machado deal
Players’ union head Tony Clark says Adam Wainwright’s comments about a possible strike were in line with widespread concern he hears from his members about a free-agent market they claim has become dysfunctional.
Starting his tour of spring training camps, Clark said he isn’t drawing conclusions about the market based on Manny Machado’s $300 million, 10-year contract with the San Diego Padres. Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel are among dozens of free agents still looking for a deal.
“We’re glad Manny found a home. We’re curious as to why it took as long as it did,” Clark said Thursday in Tempe, Arizona. “And we’re also still concerned about the players that are out there that their phone isn’t ringing and that they haven’t had an opportunity and camps are opened up and the season’s opened up and we’re in a position where fans and players alike are asking `Where are we held up and what’s going on?’ “
Clark said the union has heard from players who have been contacted by multiple teams in a small window of time after going a long period without hearing from any clubs.
Washington ace Max Scherzer said there are too many teams trying not to win, and all the rebuilding “poisons the game.” Houston righthander Justin Verlander thinks the current economic approach pursued by some teams will continue to drive away fans.
Baseball’s labor contract runs until December 2021. The union has proposed major economic changes, such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and adding rules to the amateur draft to discourage rebuilding. Management appears willing to discuss changes as part of an extension to the collective bargaining agreement.
Wainwright said a strike is coming if nothing changes, and the St. Louis righthander wondered aloud to Insidestl. com about the possibility of players walking out in the middle of the upcoming season. Clark said players will honor the current contract, but he understood Wainwright’s perspective.
“The comment that Adam offered suggests the seriousness of what we’re seeing and the concern that guys have about where the industry is and where it’s going,” Clark said.
Indians, Clippard agree to deal
The Cleveland Indians and two-time All-star reliever Tyler Clippard have agreed to a minor-league contract.
Clippard, who spent last season with Toronto, will try to earn a spot in Cleveland’s revamped bullpen. The deal is pending the 34-yearold passing medical tests and may not be completed for several days.
Union opposes closing of cap plant
The players’ union is urging the sport’s exclusive cap supplier to keep open its plant in Derby, New York, and not move production to a nonunionized facility in Florida.
New Era Cap Co. said in November it was planning to shut the site in March and reached a closing agreement with the union last month. New Era has been Major League Baseball’s cap supplier since 1993.
MLB caps are less than 2 percent of New Era’s production total. The company said it will move production to Hialeah, Florida, and its non-mlb production “would be absorbed by our existing global supply network.”
The Major League Baseball Players Association said Thursday the decision will “cause economic harm” to the workers and Derby, which is about 20 miles south of Buffalo.