December 14, 2004 9pm CT
Union Jacked?
Renteria Under Pressure
By Brian Walton
I have been told that the Edgar Renteria camp has been fielding calls from or about at least four parties today – his agents, Cardinals management, Cardinals players and representatives from the MLBPA, the players’ union. As a result, he may be tied in knots.
Let’s look at what is or may be under discussion:
Cards players: As would be expected, I am aware there is considerable player lobbying to convince Edgar to come back.
Cards management: Tony La Russa was on KMOX Tuesday evening and confirmed that Renteria wants to return, just as was reported earlier here. However, La Russa also said that Renteria was under pressure not to leave money on the table. I did not hear the interview first-hand, so I am unsure if that pressure is from his agents, the union or both.
Agents Meister and Lane: There is no way to know for sure where they stand. On one hand, they want to get as large a commission as possible. On the other, they work for Edgar. The question is whether they are really working for him most or for themselves most. I can hazard a guess, can’t you?
MLBPA: The players union would be concerned about the impact that a lower than market value deal would on have both on other unsigned players at the position, as well as the precedent it establishes. After all, who heard of not taking the most money? Isn’t that un-American?
There could be at least three reactions to this:
1) Renteria ignores the union and signs anyway.
2) The Cardinals increase the offer to close the gap to whatever the better offer is.
3) Renteria caves into the pressure and signs elsewhere.
This is not the first time that the union has stuck its nose into player-team contract matters. The most celebrated example was the original A-Rod trade to the Red Sox last winter, which was disallowed due to the amount of salary that A-Rod was willing to waive. Most recently, they came up in the Sammy Sosa trade talks because of his 2006 option which kicks in automatically if he is moved.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Renteria and the Cards were kept from doing what they both want to do because of his own agents and/or the MLBPA? Who’s in charge here? Never mind. We all know. We just may not like the answer. Stay tuned.
