Ringing The Dinner Belle

Max Power · 06-28-2002, 05:59 PM

I heard this last night during the O's-Yankees game and I nearly fell out of my chair.

As you may know, Albert Belle ('tho out of the game for good) is technically on the "DL" (and therefore still on the O's 40-man roster) so that the O's can use insurance to pay out his contract.

Well, guess what? Since he's on the DL, under the terms of the MLB-MLBPA CBA, he's entitled to (and is receiving!) meal money!

If I'm not mistaken, big league meal money is paid for every road game and is something like a couple hundred bucks per game!

Think Peter A is pissed every time he sees one of those checks going out? I would be!

calexpat · 06-28-2002, 06:14 PM

I don't if this has been discussed before, but if I'm eligible for a 10 million dollar annual insurance payout, for which I have paid premiums for years, I'm not sure I turn it down. I would send back the Indians' portion, though. And the meal money.

soxfan121 · 06-28-2002, 06:19 PM

Guaranteed contracts are killing baseball. Don't think the Belle contract isn't a huge issue amongst the owners; the MLBPA's refusal to negotiate limited termination clauses in these bloated contracts (like the Kevin Brown deal) are a primary reason the owners have decided they NEED a cap. The idea being, presumably, that if the union won't all owners to cut their losses, the owners will intentionally cut overall spending.

Skip · 06-28-2002, 06:23 PM

These issues, not blaming Belle but using him as an example, are how the owners get sympathy in the first place. Ridiculous.

calexpat · 06-28-2002, 06:29 PM

But I'm talking about insurance here. If I can make seven or eight figures for a few years in my twenties and thirties, barring injury, and then will be lucky to find a job for the rest of my life, you can be damn sure I'm going to invest in some serious insurance against injury. And then, if I get injured, I'm going to collect.

cubfan33 · 06-28-2002, 06:33 PM

I agree with what Steve said, but there are VERY VERY few insured contracts in major league baseball. Yes, I was surprised to find this out as well. While each player is covered by worker's comp and a form of disability insurance, there is no known player that carries his own disability insurance. There are currently only two companies that handle the MLB policies and due to the amounts, this is a very tenuous situation. Its likely - and not due to owners really - that guaranteed contracts will be impossible in a few years.

I'd be REALLY surprised if Belle is recieving the per diem if he's not travelling with the team.

Max Power · 06-28-2002, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cubfan33
I'd be REALLY surprised if Belle is recieving the per diem if he's not travelling with the team.

To hear Ken Singleton last night, he's getting it.

calexpat · 06-28-2002, 06:37 PM

Do clubs give big guaranteed contracts without insurance?

calexpat · 06-28-2002, 06:45 PM

Theoretically, the players are already bearing part of the burden for their guaranteed contracts, in the sense that owners factor potential liabilities into their calculations of how much they're able to pay.

cubfan33 · 06-28-2002, 06:55 PM

A-Rod's deal is not insured. That's the only one I KNOW.

cubfan33 · 06-28-2002, 06:59 PM

According to the Orioles media relations dept, Belle is not recieving any monetary benefit beyond his insured salary. While they wouldn't confirm the amount, the usual is 70%.

calexpat · 06-28-2002, 07:10 PM

Wait, does that mean he's foregoing the extra 30% out of generosity? Or does he have no choice? If the former, we should all be praising his generosity, not complaining about his refusal to retire.

JamesI · 06-28-2002, 07:18 PM

The insurance covers 70% the Orioles are paying the other 30%. I wish the Orioles would just cut him, take the salary loss since insurance wouldn't cover it then, but save a roster spot.

SmedIndy · 06-28-2002, 10:03 PM

James -

It doesn't hurt them now, since he's on the 60-day DL. They do have to go with 39 instead of 40 men in the offseason.

cubfan33 · 06-28-2002, 11:47 PM

JamesI - nope. Little known fact, but a player with a "guaranteed" deal does NOT get 100% of the value if he's injured. The guarantee merely states that he cannot be cut and that there is some form of risk management. There's NO disability insurance that will pay someone 100% - actually, if you look at the disability package at your employer, you're likely going to get 50-60%. So, instead of 10 million, Albert is likely getting around 7 million. Not a bad gig, but not as good as playing.

06-28-2002, 05:59 PM	#1
Max Power NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: May 2002 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 5,548	Ringing The Dinner Belle I heard this last night during the O's-Yankees game and I nearly fell out of my chair. As you may know, Albert Belle ('tho out of the game for good) is technically on the "DL" (and therefore still on the O's 40-man roster) so that the O's can use insurance to pay out his contract. Well, guess what? Since he's on the DL, under the terms of the MLB-MLBPA CBA, he's entitled to (and is receiving!) meal money! If I'm not mistaken, big league meal money is paid for every road game and is something like a couple hundred bucks per game! Think Peter A is pissed every time he sees one of those checks going out? I would be! __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator "They come and they go, Hobbs. They come and they go." That's why there's NetShrine.com

06-28-2002, 06:33 PM	#6
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	Insurance I agree with what Steve said, but there are VERY VERY few insured contracts in major league baseball. Yes, I was surprised to find this out as well. While each player is covered by worker's comp and a form of disability insurance, there is no known player that carries his own disability insurance. There are currently only two companies that handle the MLB policies and due to the amounts, this is a very tenuous situation. Its likely - and not due to owners really - that guaranteed contracts will be impossible in a few years. I'd be REALLY surprised if Belle is recieving the per diem if he's not travelling with the team. __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

06-28-2002, 06:55 PM	#10
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	A-Rod A-Rod's deal is not insured. That's the only one I KNOW. __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

06-28-2002, 06:59 PM	#11
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	Final Word? According to the Orioles media relations dept, Belle is not recieving any monetary benefit beyond his insured salary. While they wouldn't confirm the amount, the usual is 70%. __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

06-28-2002, 11:47 PM	#15
cubfan33 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,359	Insurance JamesI - nope. Little known fact, but a player with a "guaranteed" deal does NOT get 100% of the value if he's injured. The guarantee merely states that he cannot be cut and that there is some form of risk management. There's NO disability insurance that will pay someone 100% - actually, if you look at the disability package at your employer, you're likely going to get 50-60%. So, instead of 10 million, Albert is likely getting around 7 million. Not a bad gig, but not as good as playing. __________________ UTK available only at www.baseballprospectus.com "I was pulling for Pete and agreeing with (commissioner) Bud Selig that Pete should be eligible for the Hall of Fame," said Giles, now chairman of the Phillies. "Bud was close to making him eligible right after his meeting with Pete (November 2002). Right after that, Pete got into tax trouble (in California), and that delayed the process." - Phillies Chairman Bill Giles in the Dayton Daily News, January 25th, 2004.

06-28-2002, 06:14 PM	#2
calexpat All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 448	I don't if this has been discussed before, but if I'm eligible for a 10 million dollar annual insurance payout, for which I have paid premiums for years, I'm not sure I turn it down. I would send back the Indians' portion, though. And the meal money.

06-28-2002, 06:19 PM	#3
soxfan121 Renounced Membership 7/9/03 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Live Free Or Die, USA Posts: 1,335	Guaranteed contracts are killing baseball. Don't think the Belle contract isn't a huge issue amongst the owners; the MLBPA's refusal to negotiate limited termination clauses in these bloated contracts (like the Kevin Brown deal) are a primary reason the owners have decided they NEED a cap. The idea being, presumably, that if the union won't all owners to cut their losses, the owners will intentionally cut overall spending.

06-28-2002, 06:23 PM	#4
Skip NetShrine Vagabond Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Louisville Posts: 7,866	These issues, not blaming Belle but using him as an example, are how the owners get sympathy in the first place. Ridiculous.

06-28-2002, 06:29 PM	#5
calexpat All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 448	But I'm talking about insurance here. If I can make seven or eight figures for a few years in my twenties and thirties, barring injury, and then will be lucky to find a job for the rest of my life, you can be damn sure I'm going to invest in some serious insurance against injury. And then, if I get injured, I'm going to collect.

06-28-2002, 06:37 PM	#8
calexpat All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 448	Do clubs give big guaranteed contracts without insurance?

06-28-2002, 06:45 PM	#9
calexpat All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 448	Theoretically, the players are already bearing part of the burden for their guaranteed contracts, in the sense that owners factor potential liabilities into their calculations of how much they're able to pay.

06-28-2002, 07:10 PM	#12
calexpat All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 448	Wait, does that mean he's foregoing the extra 30% out of generosity? Or does he have no choice? If the former, we should all be praising his generosity, not complaining about his refusal to retire.

06-28-2002, 07:18 PM	#13
JamesI Netshrine Vacuum Cleaner Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Potsdam, N.Y. Posts: 3,723	The insurance covers 70% the Orioles are paying the other 30%. I wish the Orioles would just cut him, take the salary loss since insurance wouldn't cover it then, but save a roster spot.

06-28-2002, 10:03 PM	#14
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	James - It doesn't hurt them now, since he's on the 60-day DL. They do have to go with 39 instead of 40 men in the offseason.

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