Red Sox Boycott Resolved Bloodlessly

Players threatened to stay home unless staff, too, get paid for Japan trip
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 19, 2008 2:25 PM CDT
Red Sox Boycott Resolved Bloodlessly
Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, center, talks with Sean Casey, left, and Jason Varitek during their Spring Training baseball practice in Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday March 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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." (More baseball stories.)

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