MLB arbitrator Dana Eischen ruled yesterday that he
"did not have the authority" to award free agency to J.D.
Drew, the Phillies unsigned No. 1 draft pick, but he did
declare that MLB was "guilty" of changing the language in
its draft rules in March of '97, according to Jim Salisbury
of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The Phillies continue to hold
Drew's rights until midnight next Monday, when he will be
eligible once again for MLB's draft. Eischen ruled that
MLB's decision to "change the name of the draft" from
"amateur draft" to "first-year player draft" should have
been "collectively bargained with the players' union." But
Drew's "quest for free agency is not over," and his agent,
Scott Boras, said he would appeal to MLB's Exec Council.
Boras and MLB both had different takes on yesterday's
ruling, as Boras said the decision on the draft rules was an
"institutional victory," while MLB viewed the entire ruling
as a "loss for Drew and his camp." MLB Players Relations
Committee General Counsel Rob Manfred: "They weren't in this
to invalidate the rule change. They didn't care about that.
What they wanted was relief for J.D. Drew." Boras continues
to contend that Drew is a free agent because he played one
year in the Northern League and is therefore eligible to be
a free agent and not return to next month's MLB draft. But
MLB will argue that it does not recognize the Northern
League as a pro league, and if Boras' appeal is denied --
"which is likely" -- he will seek "further action, possibly
through the players' union but more likely" in a court of
law (Jim Salisbury, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/20).
