Umpires’ Counsel Phillips Upset With Clemens’ Deal

Richie Phillips, legal counsel to the Major League Umpires Assn., said Tuesday that he has asked the American League to investigate the $21,521,000 contract extension Roger Clemens received from the Boston Red Sox because the signing bonus of $621,000 commits the Red Sox to pay the fines Clemens incurred in disputes with umpires last year.

Phillips said that arrangement fosters aberrant behavior, but Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, was reached in Chicago Tuesday night and said there is no such language in Clemens contract.

“This is one more example of the umpires trying to run the game,” Hendricks said. “I regard Phillips comments as outrageous. For Richie Phillips to make bold statements without the Red Sox or us having said (that there is such an arrangement) is totally out of line.”

Hendricks added that the only thing unique about Clemens’ contract and bonus is its emphasis on the number 21, which Clemens wears on his uniform.

Clemens was fined $1,000 by American League President Bobby Brown for hitting Stanley Jefferson of the Cleveland Indians with a pitch last year and then fined $10,000 for his ejection by umpire Terry Cooney in Game 4 of the playoffs.

Of Clemens’ alleged arrangement with the Red Sox, Phillips told the Associated Press, “We feel that is a violation of the policy of the American League. This would encourage, rather than discourage, Clemens or any other player engaging in aberrant behavior.”

Rich Levin, a spokesman for Commissioner Fay Vincent, said Vincent discussed the issue with Brown and didn’t consider it significant. Levin said, as far as he knew, there is no investigation.