MLB: Players' union files grievance against Marlins
By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI — The Major League Baseball Players Association filed a grievance against the Marlins over the team's decision not to give per diems to players at the team's spring-training facility while Florida was at home.
The grievance, covering 13 players, was filed in September. The union claimed the players, who were on the disabled list, received their $88 daily per diem only when the Marlins were on the road and that they should have received it for all days they were rehabbing at the spring-training complex.
Florida believes the players are entitled to the money only when the big league team is traveling.
"Our team has always vigilantly followed whatever rules there were, and to whatever extent the union believes we have violated the rule, there is a process in place for them to prove that fact," Marlins president David Samson said Tuesday.
The Marlins are one of the few teams with spring training complexes close to the team's regular-season ballpark. Florida's training site is in Jupiter, about 90 miles north of Miami.
The players' association is continuing its investigation and may add players and/or additional years to the grievance.