Collusion becomes the topic as 10 players including Future HOF players Dawson and Raines remain unsigned

On January 8, 1987, several high-profile free agents are not signed by a midnight deadline, and thus will not be eligible to re-sign with their clubs until May 1, unless another team offers them a contract.

The players: Doyle Alexander, Bob Boone, Andre Dawson, Rich Gedman, Ron Guidry, Toby Harrah, Bob Horner, Lance Parrish, Tim Raines, and Gary Roenicke.

Tim Raines, OF: 5.5 WAR, 11 HR, 41 RBI, .320/.405/.475, 115 R, 30 2B, 70 SB, 184 H

Jack Morris, P: 5.1 WAR 21-8, 267.0 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.165 WHIP, 223 K, 15 CG, 6 SHO

Brian Downing, OF: 4.3 WAR, 20 HR, 95 RBI, .267/.389/.452, 90 R, 27 2B, 4 SB, 137 H

Willie Randolph, 2B: 4.1 WAR, 5 HR, 50 RBI, .276/.393/.346, 76 R, 15 2B, 15 SB, 136 H

Rick Gedman, C: 3.3 WAR, 16 HR, 65 RBI, .258/.315/.424, 49 R, 29 2B, 1 SB, 119 H

Lance Parrish, C: 3.1 WAR, 22 HR, 62 RBI, .257/.340/.483, 53 R, 6 2B, 0 SB, 84 H

Andre Dawson, OF: 2.3 WAR, 20 HR, 78 RBI, .284/.338/.478, 65 R, 32 2B, 18 SB, 141 H

Doyle Alexander, P: 1.2 WAR, 11-10, 228.1 IP, 4.14 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, 139 K, 5 CG

Ron Guidry, P: 0.8 WAR, 9-12, 192.1 IP, 3.98 ERA, 1.248 WHIP, 140 K, 5 CG

The general lack of interest in the players will become the focus of the Players Association’s first anti-collusion suit against the owners. They will eventually be paid compensation when an investigation shows that owners colluded to keep salaries down.

More on Baseball History and Player Contracts, News Paper Reports, and other links

Arbitration
Bonus Baby
Contract
Free Agency
Labor Issues
Player Salary
Reserve Clause
Transactions
Legal
Off The Field

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@