MLBPA says teams acted in concert against the home run king
NEW YORK
The Major League Baseball players’ union says it has found evidence that teams acted in concert against signing Barry Bonds but it reached an agreement with the commissioner’s office to delay the filing of any grievance.
The union expressed concern in May about the lack of offers for the MLB home run king. Filing a grievance would trigger proceedings before arbitrator Shyam Das.
Union general counsel Michael Weiner confirmed the deal with MLB.
“There were numerous things that occurred that made me believe that the clubs were acting in concert,” Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, said on Thursday. “When I testify as a witness in the case, I will delineate each and every one of them.”
After spending a lot of time during the first half of 2008 trying to get Bonds signed, Borris has stopped his efforts.
“I am convinced based on MLB’s actions in 2008 that they will never let him wear a major league uniform ever again,” he said.
Bonds was indicted last Nov. 15 on charges related to 2003 grand jury testimony during which he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. No team signed Bonds when he became a free agent after the 2007 season.
Bonds pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of making false declarations to a federal grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice, and his trial is scheduled to start on March 2. Any grievance is likely to follow the trial.
MLB attorneys repeatedly have denied that teams acted in concert against Bonds. Management lawyer Dan Halem said on Thursday that MLB would have no additional comment.
The players’ association won three collusion grievances in which owners were found to have conspired against free agents following the 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons. Management agreed in 1990 to settle those cases for $280 million and also agreed to a provision that future collusion would be subject to triple damages.
