Baseball Notebook | Collusion an issue? Union is concerned
ORLANDO, Fla. - The baseball players’ union is worried commissioner Bud Selig is trying to hold down the price of Alex Rodriguez’s next contract and that teams might be sharing information about their free-agent plans.
General managers, in an innovation, each spoke at their annual meeting Tuesday about their offseason goals, and many mentioned what players they were making available. The idea was suggested by this year’s co-chairs, Boston’s Theo Epstein and Florida’s Larry Beinfest, and many GMs said it was useful.
“Over the past few days, press reports coming out of the general managers’ meetings relating to the sharing of information between clubs as to their plans regarding players potentially raise serious questions concerning the fairness and integrity of the free-agent market,” the union said in a statement Thursday after the four-day session ended. “Such questions are amplified by reports stating that the commissioner is attempting to influence the market for at least one player.”
A person familiar with the statement said the player in question was Rodriguez.
Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the commissioner’s office, denied that there was any improper conduct.
Just the “Rays” now
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are gone.
Trying to reinvent itself, the perennial last-place team officially shortened its nickname to simply “Rays” during a celebration that brought a crowd of about 7,000 to a downtown park Thursday.
New team colors and uniforms also were unveiled, with navy blue and light blue replacing green and black.
Notes
• No more than 11 players from this year’s free-agent class were asked to speak with George Mitchell as part of his investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, a union official told agents. Approximately 160 players are eligible for free agency.
• In Taipei, Taiwan, Andy LaRoche drove in four runs, and the United States beat Panama 7-0 at the 37th Baseball World Cup. The U.S. improved to 2-0 at the tournament.
In other Group A play, Italy routed Spain 11-1, host Taiwan defeated South Africa 16-1, and Japan beat Mexico 15-3. In Group B, Canada cruised past Thailand 18-0, Korea shut out Venezuela 4-0, Cuba beat Germany 7-3, and Australia edged Holland 4-3.
• GMs decided base coaches will wear some sort of head protection next season, a move that came four months after Mike Coolbaugh was killed by a line drive while coaching first base in a Class AA game. GMs will decide on the exact form of protection when they meet next month at the winter meetings.
• Joe Torre, named last week as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers after ending a 12-year reign with the New York Yankees, is working on a memoir. The book will be co-authored by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci.