NEW YORK -- Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk, two vital members of the Boston Red Sox, filed for free agency last week and are awaiting a response on their status from the Player Relations Committee.
Marvin Miller, the executive director of the Major League Players Association, maintained Monday that Lynn and Fisk -- both in the option year of their contracts -- should be eligible to negotiate with any team for the coming season.
'The basic agreement spells out various ways a player can become a free agent,' said Miller. 'Article 17 spells out clearly that if a club fails to tender a proposed contract for the coming year by December 20 or before, the player becomes a free agent.'
Miller said Fisk received a contract offer from the Red Sox by registered mail Dec. 24 and the envelope was postmarked Dec. 22. He said Lynn's contract was received 'somewhat later than Fisk's.'
Red Sox owner Haywood Sullivan received a letter from Miller Monday detailing the steps that have been taken by Lynn and Fisk, who declared their free agency last Tuesday. Sullivan maintains he has a valid contract with both players.
Sullivan claims he did not have to send Lynn or Fisk their contracts because special clauses in the contracts with Lynn, Fisk and Rick Burleson -- who was traded to California -- would extend the pact an additional year.
'We have a binding contract signed by all parties through 1981,' Sullivan said. 'There are addendums agreed upon by all three players (Fisk, Lynn and Burleson) and the Players Association to do with the option-year agreement, signed August 4, 1976. We may lose them but I'm going to give them one hell of a fight.'
Miller said the PRC, under normal procedure, would respond on the matter within 10 days, leaving the PRC three days to make a decision. Miller said he asked the PRC to 'expedite the procedure' so the players and the Red Sox will have time to settle the issue before the start of spring training.
Miller said Lynn and Fisk can enter arbitration to settle their salaries for the upcoming season. If the Red Sox fail to participate, the catcher and center fielder automatically become free agents. Players can file for salary arbitration between Jan. 15 and 25 and the team has 10 days to notify the players involved if it will agree to an arbiter.
If the PRC, which is headed by Ray Grebey, rules in favor of Lynn and Fisk, the two players would be free to make their own deal with any major-league team. Should the PRC rule in favor of Sullivan, arbitration hearings, which will be held during the first two weeks of February, would be the next course of action for Fisk and Lynn.
Lynn, who appeared in only 110 games, batted .301 for the Red Sox in 1980, driving in 61 runs in limited action while battling an assortment of injuries, including an ankle problem. Fisk hit .289 last season with 18 homers and 62 RBI but also suffered with an elbow injury, causing him to play in only 131 games, many as a designated hitter.
