PITTSBURGH (AP) -Pirates reliever Salomon Torres dropped his grievance that claimed the team induced him into signing a below-market contract last year with a promise to rent his baseball training complex in the Dominican Republic.
Torres argued he accepted less money than he could have made elsewhere because the Pirates led him to believe they would rent one of his two training centers. He said there was an oral agreement that was not put into writing.
Torres does not have an agent and personally negotiated his $6.2 million, two-year deal in March 2006. Torres will make $2.7 million this season and $3.2 million in 2008, with a club option of $3.75 million in 2009. He receives a $300,000 buyout if the option is declined.
After the Pirates failed by last November to sign off on the training center agreement, Torres rented the complex to the Texas Rangers. He rents his other camp to the Atlanta Braves.
The grievance was filed during spring training in March, but had yet to be heard when Torres dropped it.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s closed,” Torres said Tuesday. “I’m the victim here but, at the same time, I understand. I’m a person who holds grudges in a sense – if you did something wrong to me, I will not forget. But, at the same time, you need to forgive and forget and move on with your life.”
Most major league teams have training camps in the Dominican Republic because players there need not be drafted and can be signed by any club. The Pirates plan to upgrade their complex this year, but will not use one of Torres’ camps.
Torres led the majors with 94 appearances a year ago while going 3-6 with a 3.28 ERA and 12 saves. He began this season as the Pirates’ closer, but lost the job when he failed to convert six of 18 save chances. The 35-year-old right-hander has a 1-4 record and 5.53 ERA in 45 games.
“I need to put that behind me,” Torres said. “You know the Pirates, they’re not going to write me a check for $1.5 million. We talked about it, and it was affecting me. The right thing to do is to turn the other cheek and just forget about it.”
Maybe Torres hasn’t quite put it behind him – he allowed hits to the only two Mets batters he faced in the eighth inning Tuesday night, and took the loss in New York’s 5-4 victory.
General manager Dave Littlefield said he dealt professionally with Torres during the contract talks and holds no animosity toward him. The pitcher was out of organized baseball for nearly five years before signing a minor league deal with Pittsburgh in 2002.
Add A Comment