Seattle Mariners: M’s and Jarred Kelenic – Storm clouds brewing
Fallout
The only other grievance case that is close to Kelenic’s is Kris Bryant back in 2020. The MLB Players’ Association filed a grievance against the Cubs. The union claimed Chicago intentionally delayed Bryant’s call-up in 2015. As a result, he couldn’t be a free agent until after the 2021 season. Arbitrator Mark Irvings ruled there was no proof the Cubs did what the MLBPA was claiming. And that the Cubs move did not “reach the broader issue of whether a club can base a roster decision solely on the desire to delay free agency.”
This time the Mariners and MLB won’t have the luxury of saying “no proof.” Just view Mather’s video as evidence. This grievance case has the possibility to change the concept of service time manipulation. No other player has ever had some concrete evidence that their ball club intentionally held them back. What will be interesting is how an outsider can determine whether or not someone is good enough to make a roster.
After Kelenic’s call-up, there has been a storm on the horizon growing ever larger. That storm is now on the shores of Puget Sound. What kind of destruction will it leave in its wake? Will the Mariners lose a prized player?
Fans could see it in post-game interviews. As he so often did over the past several years, Kelenic’s heroics on the field made him a regular Seattle Mariners’ Player of the Game. He was always thoughtful in his comments. However, there was always an undercurrent of tension. Behind the smile, he was saying, “Hey Mariners, this is going to cost you. I’ll just add it to your tab.” It’s now 2026, and that tab is due.
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Thank you Kevin Mather. I sincerely mean it. You just said what everyone already knew, but now we @MLB_PLAYERS have official evidence that is going to help a lot of players. Again, thank you!! Bravo👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) February 23, 2021
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