MLB Teams Cannot Require Players To Donate To Club Charities

Ramirez (r) Donated $1M To Dodgers' Charitable Foundation As Part Of Contract

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's office and the MLBPA have agreed that teams "cannot mandate that a player donate to club charities as part of his contract," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner said that the agreement "does not restrict players from making donations but ensures the choice is theirs." Weiner: "The goal here never has been to interfere with players making charitable contributions, which guys have a long history of doing." Shaikin notes as part of Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez' $45M contract he signed in March, he "agreed to donate $1[M] to the Dodgers' charitable foundation." Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt followed that up by saying that he "would implement the 'Ramirez Provision,' asking players to make a donation in an amount of their choosing as part of all future Dodgers contracts." The MLBPA filed a grievance alleging that teams "had improperly mandated donations to club charities in the contracts of at least 109 players." A source said that under the settlement agreement, clubs can "demand such donations from players signing as free agents or signing long-term contracts that buy out one or more years of free agency." The source said that players "not yet eligible for free agency cannot be compelled to donate" (L.A. TIMES, 2/4).