Basbeall notes: Personal-services deals banned

Published 6:29 pm Friday, April 20, 2012

NEW YORK — Baseball players and owners have banned the type of personal-services contracts agreed to by Albert Pujols and Ryan Zimmerman during the offseason.

In addition, the sides said Friday they have prohibited the bonuses for milestone accomplishments contained in the deal Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels and the agreement between Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees that began in 2008.

Only new contracts will be affected under the agreement, reached March 29. The previous deals will be allowed to stand.

“After discussions with the players’ association, both sides agreed permitting these type of special covenants was not in the interest of either party,” MLB senior vice president Dan Halem said.

Pujols’ $240 million, 10-year contract, agreed to in December, says the Angels will offer a personal-services contract for $1 million annually for 10 years that will start with his retirement and may be declined or terminated by Pujols at any time. The contract also contains a separate marketing agreement in which the Angels agreed to pay up to $10 million for the promotion and marketing of certain milestone accomplishments — $3 million for Pujols reaching 3,000 hits and $7 million for breaking Barry Bonds’ record of 762 home runs.

Already signed through the 2013 season, Zimmerman agreed with the Washington Nationals in February on a deal adding $90 million in guaranteed money over six seasons though 2019. The deal includes a personal-services contract for $2 million annually over five years starting with his retirement or the end of the contract. If he’s traded in 2012 or 2013, the personal-services deal would be voided and his salaries increased.

“Both milestones agreements and post-contract personal-services agreements raise issues under the terms of the basic agreement,” union special adviser Rick Shapiro said. “After discussions with the commissioner’s office, we agreed that they should no longer be permitted as a subject of individual negotiations between players and clubs.”

Wood placed on DL

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed reliever Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue, retroactive to April 14. The 34-year-old right-hander has struggled this season, walking three batters on opening day and earning a blown save. He was charged with three runs and took the loss in his next appearance.

Miner returns to Tigers

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers acquired right-handed pitcher Zach Miner from the Kansas City Royals for cash. Miner will report to Double-A Erie this weekend. Miner, who turned 30 last month, appeared in 157 games for the Tigers from 2006-09, including 35 starts. He went 25-20 with a 4.24 ERA over that span but hasn’t pitched in the majors since. He underwent surgery on his right elbow in May 2010 and signed a minor-league deal with the Royals before last season.

Perez fined for tweet

Cleveland closer Chris Perez has been fined $750 by Major League Baseball for a “reckless” message on his Twitter account after a benches-clearing incident in Kansas City.

After pitchers for the Indians and Royals hit batters, touching off two incidents last Saturday, Perez posted a message on his account that said: “Huge team win tonight; time for a sweep to tell the Royals it’s not ‘Our Time’, it’s #TribeTime. P.S. You hit us, we hit you. Period.”

Perez told the team’s website that he’s “not going to change the way I tweet.” Perez said he didn’t think he broke any rules.