Jim F.
08-07-01, 11:00 AM
Sonoma County Crushers sign Andy Morales
August 6, 2001
ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (AP) -- Cuban defector Andy Morales, embroiled in a contract dispute with the New York Yankees, signed a contract with the Sonoma County Crushers of the independent Western Baseball League on Monday.
The third baseman, who left Cuba in July 2000, signed a $4.5 million, four-year contract with the Yankees on March 11. He hit just .231 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 160 at-bats with Double-A Norwich.
Last month, the players association filed a grievance against the Yankees when they stopped paying Morales' salary.
The Yankees say Morales is three years older than he claims. When they announced the signing, the team said Morales was 26.
Union lawyer Bob Lenaghan said when the grievance was filed that the Yankees have nothing to back up their assertion.
The Crushers list Morales' age as 26. No one with the team could be reached for comment.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/ap/20010806/ap-morales-crushers.html
August 6, 2001
ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (AP) -- Cuban defector Andy Morales, embroiled in a contract dispute with the New York Yankees, signed a contract with the Sonoma County Crushers of the independent Western Baseball League on Monday.
The third baseman, who left Cuba in July 2000, signed a $4.5 million, four-year contract with the Yankees on March 11. He hit just .231 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 160 at-bats with Double-A Norwich.
Last month, the players association filed a grievance against the Yankees when they stopped paying Morales' salary.
The Yankees say Morales is three years older than he claims. When they announced the signing, the team said Morales was 26.
Union lawyer Bob Lenaghan said when the grievance was filed that the Yankees have nothing to back up their assertion.
The Crushers list Morales' age as 26. No one with the team could be reached for comment.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/ap/20010806/ap-morales-crushers.html