Offtopic » Baseball players’ union officials met

NEW YORK (AP) — last month with management of the four teams accused in a grievance of improper spending of revenue-sharing money Dave Henderson Jersey , people familiar with the grievance process told The Associated Press.Players’ association general counsel Ian Penny and Rick Shapiro, senior adviser to union head Tony Clark, were among the union executives who traveled to meet separately with officials of the Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, the people said, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because no announcements were authorized. An economist also was among the union officials who attended.At the time the grievance was filed in February, MLB denied any inappropriate use of revenue-sharing money http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-dennis-eckersley-jersey , as did Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. Oakland said it supported MLB’s statement, and new Marlins CEO Derek Jeter defended his team’s decision to rebuild and go young.Patrick Houlihan, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president and deputy general counsel for labor relations, was at the four sessions along with MLB chief financial officer Bob Starkey and additional staff from the commissioner’s office, the people said.Teams made presentations and the union officials asked questions. The next step is unclear; a hearing before arbitrator Mark Irvings has not been scheduled.The four clubs have among the five lowest payrolls in the major leagues and only the Athletics appear headed to the postseason.Tampa Bay was at a major league low $70.5 million for its 40-man roster, according to Aug. 31 calculations by MLB, just below the Chicago White Sox at $71.3 million. Oakland was at $77.8 million, Miami at $89.5 million and Pittsburgh at $89.8 million. All other teams are at more than $99 million.Oakland will be disqualified from receiving revenue-sharing money starting with the offseason after the 2020 season Santiago Casilla Jersey , according to baseball’s labor contract.Clark has repeatedly declined comment on the grievance, which was filed after an unusually large percentage of free agents remained unsigned when spring training started. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Madison Bumgarner’s $12 million contract option for the 2019 season has been exercised by the San Francisco Giants, keeping the 2014 World Series MVP and ace left-hander with the club for at least one more season after his past two years were shortened by injuries.The Giants on Monday also exercised third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s option for the $555,000 minimum.In April 2012, Bumgarner signed a $35.56 million, six-year deal through 2017 that included $12 million club options for the 2018 and ’19 seasons.Bumgarner, 29, broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive from Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in his final spring training start. He returned to go 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 starts over 129 2/3 innings.MadBum missed nearly three months last year following a dirt bike accident during an off day in Colorado.Sandoval Clayton Richard Jersey , the 2012 World Series MVP, is recovering from right hamstring surgery and didn’t play after July 29. His salary for next season will be offset against the $18 million he is still owed by Boston. He signed a $95 million, five-year deal with the Red Sox after the 2014 season and departed San Francisco.The Giants reinstated from the 60-day disabled list catcher Buster Posey, Sandoval, right-handers Jeff Samardzija, Johnny Cueto and Julian Fernandez.