MLB has petitioned the MLBPA "not to file a grievance charging that owners are colluding on salaries," according to sources cited by Dave Sheinin of the WASHINGTON POST, who reported the union has "intensified [its] examination of the owners' negotiating practices and resurrected suspicions that the owners are conspiring to keep salaries low." One MLBPA source said, "We may not be very far from raising charges [of collusion]." MLBPA Associate General Counsel Michael Weiner "reportedly sent a memo to players' agents asking for their cooperation in passing along what they believed to be suspicious behavior by teams. ... Central to the union's argument ... is its belief that [MLB] is dictating the offers being made to free agents." Some agents cite "examples of receiving similar offers from multiple teams for the same player, or similar types of players." Agent Chuck Berry: "I saw some of that, where there was a similarity in the offers. The contract-negotiation process for the owners has become much more centralized. Teams are getting information and some might say suggestions for [salary] ranges for signing people." MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred declined to comment on whether the request for the union not to file a grievance was made, but said, "It seems to be a continuation from last winter in that, while there has been competition [for players], the prices have not escalated and may have to come down a little bit. I think that's a reflection of fundamentals: a change in economics, and changes in the basic agreement." Manfred indicated that MLB has given teams "advice with respect to negotiations on an individual basis" but said, "Clubs make individual decisions on the free agent market and get no guidelines from [MLB]" ( WASHINGTON POST, 1/31 ).
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| MLB Petitioning Union To Avoid Collusion Grievance |
