Nothing Ventured Yet on Contraction Issue

PHOENIX â€”  The issue of contraction cast a shadow over World Series opener Saturday at Bank One Ballpark, prompting uncomfortable officials to downplay the possibility of teams being bought out and dissolved.

“All I can say about the contraction issue is this: What we know about it is from newspaper reports,� said an irritated Don Fehr, executive director of the Major League Players Assn. “We haven’t had a proposal [from the owners]. Whether or not it has a life of its own depends on what the clubs decide to do.

“I’m not going to speculate on it. I’m not going to deal with that issue. This is not an issue to be dealt with before Game 1 of the World Series. I’m not going to deal with it in the abstract.�

Commissioner Bud Selig has acknowledged that contraction at some point is a possibility, but no decision has been made. With its labor contract about to expire, baseball could eliminate two teams as early as next season, although the 2002 schedule has been released with 30 teams.

The union insists that contraction cannot take place without its approval because of issues relating to the collective bargaining agreement. The elimination of jobs tops a long list of hot-button issues that could affect the process.

Although Fehr would not discuss specifics of reported scenarios, he acknowledged that issues would have to be negotiated if owners decide to go that route.

“Whether or not the issue of contraction is in dispute, there’s no dispute any effects would have to be negotiated,� Fehr said. “If clubs want to make a proposal, or want to do something concrete, we will analyze the situation, present it to the players and go from there. But we’re way premature.�

Could contraction take effect next season?

“Well, putting the schedule together is not my problem,� Fehr said, “but it’s hard enough when you have [a lot of] time.�