Punches were thrown during a benches-clearing brawl between the Blue Jays and Rangers

By May 15, 2016, 6:31 PM EDT
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The Blue Jays and Rangers are not the best of friends. Jose Bautista sent the Jays into the ALCS last year with a three-run home run and famously flipped his bat, something that would become the subject of many discussions in the ensuing months.

The two clubs met for the first time since the ALDS for a four-game set in Toronto on May 2. There was some speculation that the Rangers might try to exact revenge on Bautista, but the series was completed without incident.

This weekend’s three-game set in Texas between the two games almost finished without incident. The Jays won the first game on Friday 5-0, and the Rangers used a Drew Stubbs walk-off home run on Saturday to win 6-5.

Rangers reliever Matt Bush came in as relief in the seventh inning, allowing an inherited runner to score to push the Jays’ lead to 6-3. He came back out to start the eighth inning, facing Bautista. His first pitch was a 96 MPH fastball that hit Bautista and was, without question, done with intent. Bautista wasn’t happy about it. Both teams were issued a warning. Bautista was discussing the incident with first base umpire Dale Scott.

After Edwin Encarnacion flied out and Jake Diekman came in to relieve Bush, Justin Smoak hit a ground ball to third baseman Adrian Beltre. Beltre threw the ball to second baseman Rougned Odor who whipped around to first to complete the double play. Bautista slid late into Odor, also obviously done with intent to harm. Odor wasn’t happy about it and threw punches at Bautista, one of which landed flush. The benches quickly emptied.

Jesse Chavez, who had entered in the bottom of the seventh and allowed a three-run home run and a single before getting the final out of the frame, started the bottom of the eighth. He threw a first-pitch fastball that hit Prince Fielder. Chavez was immediately ejected and the benches emptied again. Things calmed down quicker than before, but it was still a messy affair.

There were so many ejections…

  • Blue Jays: first base coach Tim Leiper (ejected in the third inning), manager John Gibbons, pitcher Jesse Chavez, right fielder Bautista, third baseman Josh Donaldson, bench coach DeMarlo Hale
  • Rangers: second baseman Odor, bench coach Steve Buechele

Odor is likely looking at a lengthy suspension and a fine. Bush, Bautista, and Chavez at the very least are also likely looking at suspensions and fines. What a messy situation.

The two teams don’t play each other again for the rest of the regular season.

AP Source: Minor leaguers reach five-year labor deal with MLB

Associated PressMar 30, 2023, 12:17 AM EDT
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
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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.