The Pirates and Reds are not liking one another right now - MLB

On Friday, Andrew McCutchen was hit by a 101 mile-an-hour fastball by Reds’ closer Aroldis Chapman. Then on Saturday, Reds starter Mike Leake hit Pirate Josh Harrison and barked at him. Yesterday Rod Barajas and Starling Marte were each hit by Reds pitchers.

The Pirates did not retaliate during A.J. Burnett’s win yesterday. And Barajas explained why:

“If A.J. drills someone, he gets thrown out. What good is that going to do us?” Barajas — Burnett’s personal catcher — asked. “Then, we have to go to our bullpen early with a long stretch of games coming up. That makes no sense. There is a time and a place for [retaliation]. Today was the time to win. We got that done.”

G.M. Neal Huntington mentioned something about it too:

“The competitor in you wants immediate payback,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “But there’s a right time and a right way of doing things. Even then, [the retaliation] might not be as blatant as you would want it.”

A.J. Burnett added “We haven’t forgotten.”

I find it interesting. Partially because there was none of that tit-for-tat baseball justice which you’d normally expect to see. Also because, if and when the Pirates do hit someone on the Reds the next time they meet, I wonder if these kinds of quotes will form the basis of a suspension, given that they clearly indicate some sort of intent for the future.

NEW YORK – Minor league players reached a historic initial collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball on Wednesday that will more than double player salaries, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not announced.

As part of the five-year deal, MLB agreed during the contract not to reduce minor league affiliates from the current 120.

The sides reached the deal two days before the start of the minor league season and hours after a federal judge gave final approval to a $185 million settlement reached with MLB last May of a lawsuit filed in 2014 alleging violations of federal minimum wage laws.

Union staff recommended approval and about 5,500 minor leaguers were expected to vote on Thursday. MLB teams must also vote to approve and are expected to do so over the next week.

Minimum salaries will rise from $4,800 to $19,800 at rookie ball, $11,000 to $26,200 at Low Class A, $11,000 to $27,300 at High Class A, $13,800 to $27,300 at Double A and $17,500 to $45,800 at Triple-A. Players will be paid in the offseason for the first time.

Most players will be guaranteed housing, and players at Double-A and Triple-A will be given a single room. Players below Double-A will have the option of exchanging club housing for a stipend. The domestic violence and drug policies will be covered by the union agreement. Players who sign for the first time at 19 or older can become minor league free agents after six seasons instead of seven.

Major leaguers have been covered by a labor contract since 1968 and the average salary has soared from $17,000 in 1967 to an average of $4.22 million last season. Full-season minor leaguers earned as little as $10,400 last year.

The Major League Baseball Players Association took over as the bargaining representative of the roughly 5,500 players with minor league contracts last September after a lightning 17-day organization drive.

Minor leaguers players will receive four weeks of retroactive spring training pay for this year. They will get $625 weekly for spring training and offseason training camp and $250 weekly for offseason workouts at home.

Beginning in 2024, teams can have a maximum of 165 players under contract during the season and 175 during the offseason, down from the current 190 and 180.

The union will take over group licensing rights for players.

Negotiating for players was led by Tony Clark, Bruce Meyer, Harry Marino, Ian Penny and Matt Nussbaum. MLB Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem headed management’s bargainers.