Collision Course : Owners, Players Group Continue Battle Over Free Agentry

Of the 76 baseball players who filed for free agency in November, 34 have re-signed with their former teams and 18 have changed teams, including Bill Gullickson, Bill Madlock and Terry Harper, who have even changed countries. They have committed to play in Japan.

An improvement over the previous two winters, this modest movement has been accompanied by instances of competitive bidding and the awarding of a number of lucrative contracts to free agents and others.

But now, as the 26 teams begin to assemble amid the warmth of their Arizona and Florida training camps, there is a feeling that a cold war still persists.

The relationship between players and owners still seems more collusive than cordial, more chaotic than conciliatory.

Consider:

--The Major League Players Assn., for a third straight winter, filed a grievance charging the owners with having violated the collective bargaining agreement by acting in concert to restrict free-agent movement.

Don Fehr, the union’s executive director, said Monday that the owners are still operating a controlled market and seem intent on creating a collision when the bargaining agreement expires in 1989.

Fehr cited the owners’ attempt to include a lockout clause in new contracts as a blatant example of that.

--Barry Rona, legal counsel to the owners’ Player Relations Committee, countered Monday by saying the union has an insatiable appetite, won’t be satisfied until all players are signed to five-year, guaranteed contracts and that the lockout clause is merely an attempt to be ready for any eventuality.

--The bliss of spring training could be shockingly disrupted if arbitrator George Nicolau reaches a decision next month on the union’s second collusion grievance, pertaining to players who filed for free agency and arbitration in the winter of 1986-87.

If the recent decision by arbitrator Tom Roberts serves as precedent, it seems likely (so likely that the PRC is already warning clubs to be prepared) that Nicolau will award immediate free agency to a number of top players who encountered difficulty receiving offers that winter, including Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Lance Parrish, Jack Morris, Doyle Alexander, Rich Gedman, Ron Guidry and Bob Boone.

How will it be, attempting to prepare a club with one or more of those players in camp, knowing they are free to talk to other clubs? Are they to be considered yours or not?

As it is, the camps open with five of the seven players who were granted freedom by Roberts in the first of his remedial decisions pertaining to the free agents from the winter of 1985-86 still available.

Kirk Gibson, of course, moved from the Detroit Tigers to the Dodgers for a 3-year, $4.5-million contract, and Juan Beniquez re-signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Chicago White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, reportedly being romanced by the Kansas City Royals; Detroit Tiger third baseman Tom Brookens; Angel relief pitcher Donnie Moore and catcher Butch Wynegar; and Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro have until March 1 to decide if they want to remain free agents or return to their former clubs under terms of their existing contracts.

In the meantime, they are required to join those former clubs in spring training, which obviously could create an uncomfortable situation.

Such is the nature of the game in a time of war.

Said Fehr, reflecting on the improved movement of the recent winter:

“It’s not insignificant, but it doesn’t suggest a free market.

“The effects of the prior situation are still being felt. Salaries are still lower than they should be, contracts are still shorter than they should be and guarantees are more difficult to come by.

“For the most part, what competition there was came only after the former club bowed out or the player said he wasn’t interested in returning to the former team.

“Mike Davis moved to the Dodgers only after the (Oakland) A’s made it clear they didn’t want him.

“Jack Clark moved to the (New York) Yankees only after things had blown apart in St. Louis, prior to which no one else had been interested.

“Jack Morris still couldn’t buy an offer. Charlie Leibrandt couldn’t buy an offer. Brett Butler moved to the San Francisco Giants only after Cleveland made it clear they weren’t interested any more.

“It wasn’t totally closed down, there wasn’t that virtual freeze out, but it was still a controlled and managed market, the clubs were still acting in concert. It was still necessary to take the appropriate action (in the form of another grievance).”

Rona, of course, saw it from a different perspective.

He first cited the free agents who changed teams.

In addition to Gullickson, Madlock, Harper, Clark, Butler and Davis, the list includes:

Chili Davis, who went from the Giants to the Angels; Bob Dernier, who went from the Chicago Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies; David Palmer, who went from the Atlanta Braves to the Phillies; Glenn Hubbard, who went from the Braves to the A’s; John Candelaria, who went from the New York Mets to the Yankees; Vance Law, who went from the Montreal Expos to the Cubs; Charlie Lea, who went from the Expos to the Minnesota Twins; Joaquin Andujar, who went from the A’s to the Houston Astros; David Henderson, who went from the Giants to the A’s; Eddie Milner, who went from the Giants to the Cincinnati Reds; Ed Vande Berg, who went from the Indians to the Texas Rangers, and Phil Garner who went from the Dodgers to the Giants.

Aside from Clark and Butler, most of the 18 moved after receiving nothing more than best wishes from their former teams.

The simple fact, however, is that they ultimately found employment, and in some cases security (consider Mike Davis’ $1.975 million contract with the Dodgers and Clark’s $3-million contract with the Yankees) seems to represent a significant change from the previous two winters.

Rona also said that Gary Gaetti was the object of competitive bidding before returning to the Twins with a 3-year, $4.3-million contract; that Dave Righetti received other offers before rejoining the Yankees with a 3-year, $4.3-million contract and that Mike Witt received other bids before rejoining the Angels with a 2-year, $2.4 million contract.

“There was spirited bidding for a number of free agents,” Rona said. “A number of free agents changed teams, a number returned to their former teams and a number received lucrative contracts, though I don’t feel that any received an outrageous contract.

“The problem we have is that the union will never be satisfied unless and until the industry returns to the absurd contracts that were being signed prior to 1985, those five-year contracts for millions of dollars. Unless and until that happens, we’re going to get constant harassment.”

This time, however, the union may have a tough time supporting its case.

The PRC can point to the free agent movement and improved salaries, disputing the union’s previous contention that collusion has also had an impact on players pursing arbitration.

The clubs have won eight of the first 10 arbitration decisions, but in several cases they have capitulated before the hearing, rewarding players with surprisingly large raises.

Ted Higuera, after only three major league seasons, agreed to a $1,025,000 contract with the Milwaukee Brewers after making $300,000 last year. Incentives can bring Higuera’s income to $1.2 million or only $50,000 less than he was asking in arbitration.

Kirby Puckett, after only three major league seasons, agreed to a $1,090,000 contract with the Twins after making $425,000 last year. Incentives can bring his income to $1,220,000 or only $130,000 less than he was asking in arbitration.

Eric Davis, after only three major league seasons, agreed to an $899,000 contract with the Reds after making $300,000 last year. Incentives can bring his income to $1,009,000 or only $41,000 less than he was asking in arbitration.

Philadelphia second baseman Juan Samuel settled prior to his hearing, going from $640,000 to $1,060,000.

Free agent Dave Smith, who made $650,000 last year, re-signed with the Houston Astros for a guaranteed two years at $1.1 million each.

Astro second baseman Billy Doran, who was not eligible for either arbitration or free agency, went from $625,000 to a guaranteed three years at $2.6 million.

St. Louis center fielder Willie McGee, who was not eligible for either arbitration or free agency, went from $650,000 a year to three years at $4.1 million.

The Cubs’ Dawson lost in arbitration and will receive a $1,150,000 raise to $1.85 million.

Are we returning to those golden days of yesteryear? Have the owners surrendered, giving in to the threat represented by Roberts and Nicolau?

Rona, of course, insists there was never any collusion.

“There were never any restraints, never any agreements between the clubs,” he said. “Therefore, why clubs change their approach is a product of their own thinking and I can’t address it.”

Fehr, however, said that the remedial decisions are bound to have an impact, that the penalties will continue to grow. He cited the fact that Roberts is expected to announce financial damages in the 1985-86 case in late summer and said:

“The owners are going to be paying people who are already out of baseball, whom they forced out. Sooner or later they’ll realize that it would be better to pay players still in uniform.”

They undoubtedly know that, which is why the new thrust may be in the area of contract language.

The clubs have attempted to include both a conversion and lockout clause in new contracts.

The conversion clause would void guarantees if, in the club’s view, a player was not physically 100% because of the use of alcohol, illegal substances, or prescription medicine.

The lockout clause would enable clubs to withhold salaries if the clubs stage a lockout in response to prolonged negotiations over a new bargaining agreement.

“Obviously, they’re preparing for just that, they’re preparing for a lockout,” Fehr said. “They’re not interested in conciliation or finding an agreement. They have their mind set. They’re saying, ‘we’re going to get them one way or the other.’ They’ve charted a collision course and I don’t understand what’s behind it.”

Said Rona: “Baseball is one of the few industries that has consistently provided outstanding salaries and benefits. We shouldn’t have the confrontational and adversarial nit-picking that we have. We should have much better union relations, but the union has an insatiable appetite. Therefore, while not looking for a strike, we have to be prepared for the worst.

“Given history and the current atmosphere, I’ve recommended that we have to prepare for any eventuality, we have to keep our options and flexibility open. A lockout is one option. It means nothing more or less.”