Angels May File Grievance Against Steinbrenner Over Winfield Trade

The California Angels plan to file a grievance seeking damages from the New York Yankees over the Dave Winfield affair, New York Newsday reported today, but in Anaheim, General Manager Mike Port would not confirm it.

Port told The Times this morning that although such an action is possible, no grievance had been filed.

According to Newsday, Port said the grievance would be filed in the next few days, charging that Yankee owner George Steinbrenner’s two-hour “air-clearing” meeting with Winfield last Monday was inappropriate and damaged the Angels’ bargaining position.

The Angels traded pitcher Mike Witt to New York for Winfield last Friday, but the outfielder refused to report, citing his right, as a 10-year player who has spent the last five years with the same team, to veto trades.

The matter seemed headed for arbitration until Winfield agreed to the deal Wednesday when the Angels offered a three-year $9.1-million contract extension.

While the trade was in limbo, Steinbrenner met with Winfield, assuring him that he would be a full-time player if an arbitrator ruled that he remain with the Yankees.

The Angels, who were using a regular job as one of their incentives to get Winfield to report, reportedly referred to the Steinbrenner meeting as “tampering in its grandest form.”

Steinbrenner said he saw nothing improper about meeting with Winfield, his longtime adversary during the last 10 years.

“I was asked to meet with the player,” he said. “And I got permission to meet with him before I did it.

“I just went to tell him what had happened and clear the air on some things. But (the Angels) offered him a multiyear contract and I did not.”