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Red Sox Boycott Resolved Bloodlessly
Players threatened to stay home unless staff, too, get paid for Japan trip
By Jonas Oransky
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Posted Mar 19, 08 2:25 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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The Boston Red Sox are headed to Japan as planned after Major League Baseball gave in to players' demands that team coaches be paid for the trip, the Boston Globe reports. Players threatened not to board this afternoon's flight to Tokyo for season-opening games Tuesday and Wednesday against Oakland; "everyone connected with the trip will be fairly compensated," an MLB rep said.
The defending World Series champs voted unanimously to support their coaches, who had been denied a $40,000 appearance fee, Bloomberg reports. “It has nothing to do with the players," catcher Jason Varitek told ESPN, "we’re getting paid regardless.” A team spokesman wouldn't say how much coaches will get for making the trip, leaving matters at "We're going to Japan."