Ainge Files Grievance with Baseball Player's Association

Danny Ainge has filed a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Assn. in an attempt to get certain contractual language deleted from his contract with the Blue Jays, which would clear the way for him to sign with the Celtics .

The Players Assn. filed the grievance in behalf of Ainge Friday. It claims that the additional language is "not in the interest of the player" and thus is invalid. Toronto paid the former Brigham Young star $300,000 to include that language in the contract and thus forfeit his right to negotiate with the NBA. Ainge received the final $120,000 of the bonus on June 8, the day before the NBA draft. Before that, Ainge claims, the team informed him that he could choose whichever sport he wanted to play.

The Blue Jays, naturally, argue that the clause was in the interest of the player. It cites two precedents - the cases of Cardinals Ted Simmons and Ken Reitz, who waived no-trade rights for specific bonuses similar to that paid Ainge.

If Ainge wins his grievance, the clause will be stricken from the contract. All that will remain in the contract will be the standard clause that states a player cannot engage in any other professional sport while an active baseball player. But Ainge could circumvent that by placing himself on the voluntary retired list, keep the $300,000 and jump to the Celtics. However, it is unlikely that the grievance can be ruled on before the end of November.

Toronto officials will be in Boston Wednesday for the hearing on the Celtics' request for a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Blue Jays from implementing the clause in the contract to keep him from jumping to the NBA.