Players launch fight against contraction by filing grievance

NEW YORK -- Baseball players began their fight to stop owners from eliminating two major league teams, filing a grievance claiming their labor contract was violated.

Management and the union met for about two hours Thursday, their first session since owners voted earlier in the week to get rid of two teams next year -- with Montreal and Minnesota the front-runners to disappear.

New York Mets pitcher Al Leiter and Texas pitcher Rick Helling were at the meeting, along with Detroit Tigers infielders Tony Clark and Damion Easley. The session took place on the day after the expiration of the sport's collective bargaining agreement.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was quoted on the sport's Web site as saying the decision on which teams to eliminate may come soon.

A swift cut

"I honestly believe that we can get this done by the end of November," he was quoted as saying on mlb.com. "Now after November is over you may come to me and say: 'What happened?' But I think that is a realistic goal."

In Washington, Sens. Paul Wellstone and Mark Dayton, both Democrats from Minnesota, asked President Bush to support legislation that would rescind baseball's antitrust exemption.

Wellstone and Rep. John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said they will introduce legislation next week to revoke the exemption.

"Without your support, we believe it will be extremely difficult to move this legislation forward," Wellstone and Dayton wrote to Bush, the former controlling owner of the Texas Rangers. White House officials did not return calls seeking comment.

Players and owners declined comment on the talks, but details were confirmed by officials on both sides who spoke on the condition they not be identified.

In the grievance, filed Wednesday just hours before the labor contract ran out, the union claimed owners violated the agreement Tuesday by unilaterally deciding to cut from 30 to 28 teams next season. If the sides don't settle, the grievance would be decided by Shyam Das, baseball's permanent arbitrator.

Management lawyers maintained owners had the right to eliminate teams but conceded that particulars, such as how to disperse players on the folded franchises, must be bargained over.

The right to contract

Management lawyers didn't make any proposals to the union during the discussion, which dealt in generalities and not specifics, and both sides agreed it would be impossible to complete negotiations until the teams to be eliminated are identified.

In addition to the Expos and Twins, Florida, Oakland and Tampa Bay also are possibilities. Montreal has the lowest attendance in the major leagues. Minnesota owner Carl Pohlad, a close friend of baseball commissioner Bud Selig, wants to be bought out and would get a much higher price in a contraction payment from the remaining 28 teams than he would from a sale.

Lawyers for owners and players said they will get back in touch with each other next week.

In Minneapolis, a hearing scheduled Thursday on a suit by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission was postponed until next week. Hennepin County District Court Judge Diana Eagon has issued a temporary restraining order against the Twins and major league baseball.

The commission sued earlier this week to compel the Twins to honor their lease to play in the Metrodome, which runs through next season.