Union backs Nick Hagadone

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The baseball players' union may file a grievance against the Cleveland Indians if they withhold pay from pitcher Nick Hagadone, who injured a hand in frustration.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said the left-hander was hurt after a bad relief outing against Tampa Bay on Friday night and said the injury was self-inflicted. The 26-year-old rookie gave up two hits, walked two and allowed two runs while recording two outs.

Cleveland optioned Hagadone to the minors Saturday then placed him on their minor league disqualification list the following day. His next payday is Sunday, and he has a contract calling for a $480,500 salary in the major leagues and $78,250 in the minors.

"If Nick is not paid what he in our view is supposed to be paid on July 15, then we'll have a fight about it," Union head Michael Weiner told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday.

He cited a case involving Yankees pitcher Doyle Alexander, who broke a finger when he punched a dugout wall in 1982.

"Baseball is a very intense game, and if a player in the intensity of the moment does something, makes a mistake and whams his hand against the dugout or a door and does something or is injured, that's a work-related injury," Weiner said. "That's part of the game.

"Clubs want players to compete, to compete very hard, and sometimes those emotions come out. No player is proud of the fact that he injured himself in that kind of situation, but Nick is not the first player this year and certainly not the first player in baseball history who unfortunately suffered that kind of injury. I expect, I certainly hope, that with that kind of precedent that we'll be able to quickly resolve this matter."

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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