The Red Sox have voted unanimously not to play their final spring training game and to board the flight to Japan unless Major League Baseball agrees to pay each Red Sox coach a $40,000 stipend for the trip. Francona alluded to some coaches’ salary being only a scant $100,000 (as compared to managers and players, I mean — not to us) so this would be a welcome bonus to those coaches.
The Red Sox are getting on that flight. There is absolutely zero chance that MLB and Bud Selig allow the series to be canceled or delayed. The public relations backlash and global ramifications would be far, far too damaging.
In the end, MLB will either pay or stand their ground. If it’s the latter, the coaches will publicly thank the players for their support but request the trip be made.
Let’s hope sanity prevails and MLB pays.
For more information and quotes, ESPN has the story.
Update: It’s been resolved, and the coaches will get their $40,000. The Red Sox are currently playing the spring training game now and will board the plane. Off to Japan!
