Funny that this news should break on a day people are talking about what it takes to void a major-league contract.
An arbitration panel has denied a grievance by the players' union on behalf of pitcher Shawn Chacon, who was released and had his contract voided in 2008 after choking Astros general manager Ed Wade and throwing him to the ground.
Chacon had more than $980,000 left on his $2 million contract at the time of the clubhouse incident. The ruling received by the Astros on Monday denies Chacon any further compensation.
"We’re pleased with the [Chacon] ruling,” Wade told MLB.com. "It was an unfortunate incident, and we’re glad to put it behind us."
It's a reminder for the Mets, who are figuring out what to do with Francisco Rodriguez, that it's possible to void a contract and prevail. It's also a reminder that the union will do anything to get money for its members -- if they went to bat for $980,000, you can be sure that they'll fight for the millions owed to Rodriguez.
In the real world, if you choke your boss you end up not only unemployed but in jail. But if you're a member of the MLBPA, you get a defense team. What a world.
-- David Andriesen
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