Astros, Bagwell at odds
January 25th, 2006
The Houston Astros and first baseman Jeff Bagwell are in a nasty spat that’s most unfortunate.
The Astros are trying to get Bagwell declared medically unable to play professional baseball, so they can file an insurance claim to recoup $15.6 million of the $17 million they owe Bagwell this year.
Bagwell has suffered from an arthritic right shoulder condition since 2001, but he avoided the disabled list until May 2005. He was unable to start from May 4, 2005, until the first game of the World Series in late October, when he was the Astros’ designated hitter for Games 1 and 2 at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox.
He underwent capsular release surgery on his right shoulder on June 7 and rushed his rehab to come off the disabled list in September. He has been working out and undergoing physical therapy this winter in hopes of playing in 2006, the final year of his contract.
Bagwell, however, insists he’s healthy enough to play and says he’s going to report to spring training as usual. If he practices with the team, chances are the insurance claim will not be successful. That means the team will have to pay Bagwell his full salary, and the Astros think Bagwell’s performance won’t be worth anywhere close to that much.
Needless to say, the whole episode has resulted in a strained relationship between the Astros and arguably the best player in team history.
“It probably will never be fixed between me and the Astros,” Bagwell said.
Once again we see that contracts are virtually worthless in pro sports. First, T.O. wants to re-negotiate after just one year with the Eagles, now the Astros want to get out of their obligation to pay a guy who has given them 110% for a long time. This is why I like college sports much better than professional.
I don’t know, Gordon — I can see both sides on this. Bagwell’s getting paid regardless, either by the Astros or by the insurance company. And given the status of his health in recent months, I think Houston has a legitimate concern.
That said, given the team’s history with Bagwell, you’d think they’d be more inclined to take him at his word that he’s healthy, and let him take another crack at it.
But $15.6 million is still a lot of money.
Any contract longer than 3 years in pro sports is a tremendous risk for a pro team. That being said, it is sad that a team who just appeared in a World Series is “playing hardball” with arguably the finest player in its history. But as Mr. Bagwell said, it is a business, even as it remains a sport on the field.
I understand that this is a business decision carried out by the new young GM; I believe, however, that perhaps the owner, Mr. McLane, who is a deacon in his Baptist church, could somehow seek to diffuse this nasty spat, as Tim calls it, so that everyone could be satisfied with its outcome. I’m not saying to inject religion into it; but the owner approved the contract. If there is a way for Jeff to play, fine; if not, at least honor him for the 15 years of faithful, honorable service to the team by paying him what he is owed. What Jeff has done for baseball in Houston by his play, and his example in the clubhouse, makes $17 million pale in comparison.
I truly hope that the team is not telling Jeff, either directly or by implication, to just “go away.” That is the heart of it right there.
As Tim rightly says, he will get paid. Right now the Astros are going to come off looking bad, and that is unfortunate.
You could be right, Tim. It’s just that after his track record, I hate for the Astros not to give him the chance if he says he’s healthy.