An article related to the Twins challenges for a new ballpark has some unnerving news and language

related to the possibility of the Twins and Marlins being prime Contraction candidates. Thoughts on this article? :mad

 

Twins are hearing dreaded 'C' word again

The politicians should be paying attention, because contraction involving the Twins and Marlins makes too much sense right now to be ignored.

 

Patrick Reusse, Star Tribune

Last update: February 11, 2006 ? 1:22 AM

 

Contraction reared its ugly head again this week when Gov. Tim Pawlenty played host to a meeting among Twins officials and political leaders. The twist was that the dreaded "C" word first was uttered by the governor and not Jerry Bell, the lead man in the Twins' ballpark efforts.

Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, who has jeopardized his political future more than anyone in this ballpark battle, was in attendance.

 

"When the governor laid out the reasons that contraction could be something to be concerned over, Jerry Bell did correct him somewhat," Opat said. "He said it wouldn't be easily done, since baseball would be required to bargain the effects of contraction with the players [union]."

 

Opat said in his many conversations with Bell and other Twins officials that the possibility of contraction had not been raised.

 

"The Twins have conducted themselves in good faith through this whole process," Opat said. "Now, if they get to the point where they say, 'We've taken it as far as we can,' I don't expect them to tell me their strategy.

 

"After a couple of false starts, I'm sure baseball isn't going to say anything in advance about contraction. If it happens, it will be when we're past the point of no return."

 

There is no denying this: Major League Baseball has two franchises absolutely ripe for contraction after the 2006 season in the Twins and Florida.

 

These are baseball's two most underperforming markets. The big-revenue franchises have grown disgusted with handing $20 million to $25 million per year apiece to teams located in what should be lucrative markets.

 

Baseball could buy out owners Carl Pohlad and Jeff Loria for $200 million to $225 million apiece and pay it off in a hurry with the savings in revenue sharing. For sure, contraction makes much more sense for baseball than trying to find new locales for the Twins and the Marlins.

 

The timetable as laid out in the basic agreement between the owners and the players also fits perfectly with the Twins reaching the decision, "We've taken it as far as we can."

 

The agreement states the following: "The Clubs [management] shall have the right ... to reduce by as many as two the number of Major League Clubs effective for the 2007 championship season."

 

According to the document, the clubs must notify the players of any decision to cut teams effective for 2007 no later than July 1, 2006. The owners also must deliver a tentative schedule at that time, thus revealing the names of the teams to be eliminated.

 

Presumably, Minnesota's 2006 legislative session will be well over before July 1. If the Hennepin County ballpark bill dies, the Twins officially can call it the end of the line.

 

And if a bill gets passed with a requirement for a referendum? Sorry, there's no time, the ballpark's supporters can say, not with that July 1 deadline for a contraction decision.

 

The players have agreed in this basic agreement not to take up a National Labor Relations Act challenge to contraction. They do have the right to bargain the effects. The best guess is the players would wind up with more players on the big-league rosters -- say 27, not 25, during the season, and 43 not 40 on the protected list.

 

This basic agreement expires after this season. There's little chance the language will be as favorable to contraction the next time around. So, if baseball is going to reduce itself to 28 franchises, this is the moment.

 

Carl Pohlad is now 90. When contraction failed in the winter of 2001-02, his son Jim took a big interest in trying to restore the credibility of the franchise. He didn't want the Pohlad name to be associated with the loss of baseball in Minnesota.

 

The Hennepin County deal offered last April was advanced as the Pohlads' last, best effort to guarantee baseball's future in Minnesota. If a clean version of that deal doesn't come out of this legislative session, Jim can with clear conscience join his brothers Bob and Bill in wanting no part of owning a baseball team.

 

Bell and Twins President Dave St. Peter consistently have shrugged off contraction as a renewed possibility. Commissioner Bud Selig will remain dismissive of the notion, rather than allow political and public opposition to escalate as was the case in 2001-02.

 

But Pawlenty had it right this week at his meeting: Elimination of the Twins (and the Marlins) makes too much sense to be ignored.

 

http://www.startribune.com/508/story/240117.html

I wouldn't get too worked up about this.

Pohlad is the only owner to have offered his club up for contraction. Samson and DuPuy almost got into a fistfight when their Expos were proposed.

 

Anyways, not going to happen. Contraction has always been just a threat, against the players and municipalities

Would make a little more sense if the Marlins hadn't already begun whoring themselves to other markets.

Loria wants to be an MLB owner, you guys don't have to worry about contraction.. relocation maybe.. but not contraction

It was just a matter of time before someone brought up the word.

It was just a matter of time before someone brought up the word.

 

 

 

Yea your right... "HELL NO WE WONT GO!!" :notworthy

If the owners want to contract, this is their best and last shot possibly. As far as the Marlins go, why would Loria accept a buy out when he supposedly already turned down offers to sell the team? Contraction is a possibility, but I'd say it's a longshot at best.

tampa bay would be contracted first

Not with the price to buy out their lease

Random question... If a team were to be contracted, would all player contracts become void and all players in the organization become free-agents?

Long-term contracts would be brought out from what I read.

Well, we don't HAVE any long-term contracts. So... lol

do it...

 

then Loooouie can come back

This could be use as a last card to get us a stadium down here.

 

We are perfect candidates, with no long term committments.

 

This may explain why Loria and Samson are holding strong with their demands