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CNN Live At Daybreak

A Little More Progress on Minor Issues in Baseball's Labor Negotiations

Aired August 09, 2002 - 05:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Major League Baseball, accusations of voodoo economics aren't confined to WorldCom. New York Mets co-owner Nelson Doubleday is suing baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Doubleday accuses Selig of conspiring with a former Arthur Andersen accountant to produce phantom operating losses in the team's books. Doubleday's suit alleges the commissioner's office was in cahoots with Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon to put a phony low value on the team. Wilpon is trying to buy out Doubleday.

Also in baseball, Barry Bonds denied. The Giants slugger did not get his 600th home run for the second straight day. The Chicago Cubs beat San Francisco 9-3.

In New York, a little more progress on minor issues in baseball's labor negotiations. Players and owners did agree on a $300,000 minimum salary. It comes a day after players agreed to mandatory drug testing for illegal steroids.

CNN's Josie Karp has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ken Kamiti (ph) and Jose Canseco aren't major leaguers anymore, but they're the two players most responsible for the historic concession made by the players' union this week to make random testing for illegal steroids part of their labor agreement. The two former MVPs claimed recently that steroid use at the major league level is widespread.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing we're disappointed in is that we have to prove our innocence because of two guys who are running around saying, you know, there's a problem with baseball. No, I don't think there really is a problem, but, you know, if it's going to get an agreement, we're all for it.

JOE RANDA, KANSAS CITY ROYALS: You know, obviously, the integrity of the game is very important to us as players and if the public and people think that there's a problem, then it's going to be handled.

KARP: The union proposal calls for up to two years of random testing to determine how serious the problem is. Depending on the results, that could be followed by another two year period. While not as far reaching as the proposal made by the owners back in February, the union's offering was well received.

ROB MANFRED, MLB CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: You can make a proposal in order to say that you've made a proposal. But we believe this proposal was made in an effort to push the issue forward to an agreement.

MIKE STANTON, NEW YORK YANKEES: We have to figure out if there's a problem to start off with and, you know, there's been a lot of talk about it up until now, but everything's been on, you know, on people's emotions and not actual facts. So we have to figure out how big, if there's a problem at all.

KARP (on camera): The details of the drug testing program will be worked out in negotiating sessions like the ones that continue to take place here at major league baseball headquarters in New York. At the table, drug testing has now moved from potential sticking point to probable bargaining chip.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since we kind of conceded on that issue and didn't really fight over it and, you know, kind of pushed it through among the players, that I think we're looking for a big move from them. So hopefully it might be a situation where we get something done quickly.

JASON GRIMSLEY, KANSAS CITY ROYALS: This is something that as a union we've adamantly opposed, you know, in the past period. And, you know, for us to, as a union, to take a step that way, I think that shows a lot on our part, a willingness to get something done and get something done quick.

KARP: Players and owners still have to find common ground regarding the major economic issues of revenue sharing and a competitive balance tax. The union's executive board meets on Monday in Chicago and players could decide to set a strike date, depending on how much progress has been made on those topics.

In New York, I'm Josie Karp.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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