March 9, 200521 yr Article Bucs' spending could result in violation of CBA By Joe Rutter TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, March 9, 2005 BRADENTON, Fla. -- If the Pirates violated the spirit of baseball's collective bargaining agreement by using revenue sharing money to pay off debt, the players' association will know about it within a few weeks. Mike Weiner, general counsel for the players' association, said Tuesday that all owners receiving revenue sharing money must file a letter of certification to the commissioner's office by April 1. The letter details how those funds were spent. The Pirates received $13.3 million in revenue sharing last season, an increase from $6.4 million in 2003. The basic agreement states that teams must use revenue sharing money to "improve its performance on the field." But Pirates managing general partner Kevin McClatchy admitted in a December newspaper article that not all of the money his team received was put back into the system. "We're also trying to get the team back afloat to balance the ship with our debt," said McClatchy, who claimed in 2003 that the franchise had lost $30 million since the opening of PNC Park. "We lost a significant amount of money there in a short amount of time." The basic agreement also states the commissioner's office may impose penalties on clubs that violate the revenue sharing agreement. Weiner declined comment on McClatchy's remarks, but said if the Pirates violated the revenue sharing rules, it will be detailed in the forthcoming letter of certification. "We have regular discussions with the commissioner's office about whether there is regular compliance," Weiner said. Weiner said the commissioner's office shares the letter of certification with the players' association. Weiner was one of several officials that attended the union's annual spring training meeting with Pirates players. Executive director Donald Fehr was not available for comment. Players were briefed on the new steroid-testing policy that is being implemented this year, the CBA that is set to expire after the 2006 season, licensing issues and the possibility of a World Cup tournament being played next spring. Fehr also updated the Pirates on the labor discord in the NHL and how it might relate to future union negotiations with ownership. "It's too early to tell how that is going to play out and impact us," Weiner said.
March 9, 200521 yr Our payroll will dip under 20 mil next season. watch! :mad 706225[/snapback] cheap owner. trying to give donald sterling a run for his money as cheapest owner in professional sports in the United States.
March 9, 200521 yr The funny thing is we had a NINE million dollar payroll in 1997... We finished 79 - 83 and finished 3 games out! So, less spending = more winning? Maybe they're going for that?
March 9, 200521 yr Author It's cheap owners like this (and Tampa Bay's owner) that bring these teams down.
March 10, 200521 yr Finally there's something being done about this. Although it will probably be solved with a simple accounting fix.
March 11, 200521 yr MLB has to do something about the Pirates' ownership, it's a complete disaster. That team has so much potential on and off the field it isn't even funny. Can Selig use the "best interest of baseball" clause and take the team or payroll matters away from owners?
March 11, 200521 yr Author Can Selig use the "best interest of baseball" clause and take the team or payroll matters away from owners? 707506[/snapback] No, at best they can pull an Expos and have MLB buy the team. Not likely.
March 11, 200521 yr The funny thing is we had a NINE million dollar payroll in 1997... We finished 79 - 83 and finished 3 games out! So, less spending = more winning? Maybe they're going for that? 706302[/snapback] that was before the explosion in spending. i think the 97 marlins were at like 49 million and were like the 5th highest.
March 11, 200521 yr Author The NL Central hasn't exploded that badly. 707575[/snapback] Cards have begun seperating themselves from other teams with picking up Walker last year. I can see them spending some more money in the future.
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