MLBPA Resolves Rookie Contract Disputes Of Alvarez, Hosmer

WORKING BOTH SIDES OF THE PLATE: MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred said of the settlement, "We fully support and welcome the changes to the manner in which the deadline will be administered." MLBPA Associate Counsel Mike Weiner: "The agreement fully satisfies the union's objective, made clear from the outset, which was to defend the integrity of its [CBAs]." Pirates President Frank Coonelly in a conference call said he felt the new deal was "comparable in value" to the original contract. Boras, who originally was not scheduled to participate in the conference call, "later entered and called the new deal 'a favorable change for Pedro Alvarez ... much different than the one previously offered'" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/25). A PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE editorial states, "The legal wrangling stifled whatever joy the Pirates stood to reap from landing a player of Pedro Alvarez's caliber. ... Now that all of that is behind the team, his development as a player ... could make Pirates baseball fun to watch again. With this year's average game attendance the lowest in PNC Park history, the team could use two or three Pedro Alvarezes" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/25).

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