# How much pressure does the MLBPA put on FA to accept top $$$ **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883 "2010-11-08T07:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/41 "2011-01-29T00:02:10Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > You wrote that they didn’t force him to take a lesser deal, but I think you meant better deal. But that’s exactly what they did by rejecting the trade to Boston. A-Rod never went to the Red Sox, but instead took better money with the Yankees. That seems to be exactly what the OP is asking about even though the “hometown discount” aspect wasn’t in play. No he got the same money from the Yankees as he agreed to with Texas. Eventually he was able to opt out his deal, per a clause in the contract, and become a free agent. At that point the was able to negotiate a new one. [Here is an article from that time talking about why there is a significant difference between agreeing to a lower contract and agreeing to a pay cut](http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/18/commentary/column_sportsbiz/sportsbiz) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/42 "2011-02-15T17:29:27Z")
Bumping this thread because [Tony La Russa weighed in on the issue today in regard to Albert Pujols](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/news/story?id=6124272). Of course La Russa isn’t a neutral party here, but it may be of interest. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/43 "2011-02-15T21:48:27Z")
Tony Gwynn has said that, the first few times he had a chance to become a free agent, the union leaned on him heavily to play out his option and get big bucks elsewhere. But after he’d signed his second renewal with the Padrres, the union got the message that he was very happy in San Diego, and didn’t want to leave. They didn’t bother him after that. My sense is, the union only cares about a handful of superstar free agents. If a good-but-not-great player loves Kansas City and is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Royals, the union won’t care. But a guy like Tony Gwynn had the potential to get the kind of HUGE contract that would eventually trickle down and elevate salaries for EVERYBODY. A star with THAT kind of clout can’t give a “hometown discount” without getting an earful from Don Fehr. Albert Pujols, as the best player in MLB, COULD change the prevailing salary structure if he breaks the bank with his next contract. The union would LOVE for that to happen, even if Albert really wants to stay in St. Louis. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/44 "2011-02-16T01:17:07Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Albert Pujols, as the best player in MLB, COULD change the prevailing salary structure if he breaks the bank with his next contract. The union would LOVE for that to happen, even if Albert really wants to stay in St. Louis. I don’t quite understand this reasoning. If i’m going to pay Albert north of $30 million a year (or whatever his value might be), i’m doing it _precisely_ because he’s Albert Pujols, and not Adam LaRoche. I guess i understand that a huge contract might place upward pressure on all salaries, but it seems to me that giving too much money to a mediocre player could have just as much effect. If i were a journeyman who could steal bases, but had no power and average on-base ability, i wouldn’t be pointing to Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols in order to support my claims for a big salary; i’d be asking why i shouldn’t get the same $40m/5yr contract that Juan Pierre managed to get with a career OPS+ of 86. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/45 "2011-02-16T01:26:14Z")
mhendo-I think the Werth deal is an example of what you’re talking about, though I agree wholeheartedly with astorian. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883/46 "2011-02-16T02:10:55Z")
[quote=“astorian, post:43, topic:559883”] Tony Gwynn has said that, the first few times he had a chance to become a free agent, the union leaned on him heavily to play out his option and get big bucks elsewhere. You have a cite for this? > [@astorian](#): > > A star with THAT kind of clout can’t give a “hometown discount” without getting an earful from Don Fehr. Well, maybe an NHL star. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pressure-does-the-mlbpa-put-on-fa-to-accept-top/559883.md?page=2)