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All for it Expos reliever supports elimination of two teams
Updated: Thursday November 08, 2001 11:06 PM
NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Bud Selig has a companion in contraction, and he plays for the Montreal Expos. Expos reliever Scott Strickland told a radio network Thursday that contraction "has to be done" and salaries "have definitely gotten out of control." On Tuesday, Selig announced that baseball's owners had begun the process of contracting by two teams before next season. In an interview with ABC Sports Radio Network on Thursday afternoon, Strickland did not seem to flinch when discussing contraction, even though his team is among those believed to be among the leading candidates. "I've realized it has to be done," Strickland told the radio station. "We're struggling in Montreal. It's really no fun playing in front of a few thousand fans every night." En route to losing 94 games, the Expos drew 642,743 fans to Olympic Stadium, an average of just 7,935 per contest. Their total attendance was half the total of the Florida Marlins, the next lowest team. "I think not only the team but the game deserves more than that," Strickland continued. "I'm not a politician or a businessman, but if this is a step they need to take, then I support it." The idea of contraction was initially blasted by Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Donald Fehr. On Thursday, the union met for two hours with league officials. In addition to the Expos, it is believed the Minnesota Twins and Florida Marlins are being considered as teams whose ownership possibly would receive $250 million apiece to fold their franchises. "We are going to operate as usual," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "We are going to go about our business and see exactly what transpires in the next month or so. There's not a whole lot you can do. "Our names come out in the forefront of possible contraction, but until someone tells us different, we are going to go about our business and do things the way we've done it in the past." Although the contraction of two teams would cost the union 80 jobs, Strickland seems unconcerned about his job prospects. The 25-year-old right-hander went 2-6 with nine saves and a 3.21 ERA last season, taking over the closer's role following the trade of Ugueth Urbina. Instead, Strickland had a spot in his heart for administrative employees, stadium workers and the minor league affiliates of the teams that could be contracted. "The baseball players are going to be OK," he said. "It's the people working for the baseball players and for these organizations that are going to be screwed." "Unfortunately for the other people who work for the Metrodome and our team, their status, like our team, is up in the air," Ryan said. "And I feel for them." Strickland made $250,000 in 2001, which is 1 percent of the average annual salary being paid to Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez. Not yet eligible for arbitration -- and the exponential raises that come with it -- Strickland said that exorbitant salaries are simply something players are being offered. "Salaries have definitely gotten out of control," Strickland said. "A lot of people call us overpaid babies. If you're gonna get paid that and the owners are gonna pay you that, then why wouldn't you take it?" Strickland told ABC Sports Radio neither he nor any other Expo had spoken with team union representative Javier Vazquez. The owners and players also must negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, which could be a protracted battle. At this point, however, everyone appears focused on contraction. "If it's good for the game, it's good for the game," Strickland said. "I guess you gotta break a couple eggs in the process."
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