Former big-league pitcher Mike Bolsinger filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Houston Astros on Monday, accusing the franchise of unfair business practices and negligence, among other charges, stemming from their sign-stealing operation, per Nancy Armour of USA Today. Bolsinger is said to be seeking "unspecified damages," but not just for his own benefit. Per Armour, Bolsinger wants the Astros to forfeit $31 million in bonuses they received from winning the 2017 World Series, with that money being donated to Los Angeles-based charities for children and used to create a fund for "retired baseball players who need financial assistance." Bolsinger, 32, accumulated 48 appearances in the majors over the course of the 2014-17 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He last pitched in the majors for the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 4, 2017 against the Astros. Bolsinger didn't fare well: he faced eight batters and permitted four hits and three walks. Bolsinger believes that performance cost him any chance at a prolonged big-league career. "I was an older guy. They had younger guys to call up," he told Armour. "Let's say that (Astros game) doesn't happen … I probably don't get sent down. But at that point, they probably lost faith in me and were over it."
Definitely had nothing to do with the fact that he was a career 4.92 era pitcher already in his 30's with no real future ahead of him. Yeah...it was the Astros fault he sucks. This is the stupid part of the opposing players argument.
Hopefully the judge isn't a Dodgers fan. Can the Astros counter sue? I wonder if he would drop it if they can. Potentially could lose more money.
My guess is he is hoping the Astros want to avoid the negative publicity and want to settle. Barring that, I think he will have a difficult time proving that his career was ended because of that one game. MLB is probably going to want this to go away for fear that evidence will come out other teams were doing it too. That is obviously, from the way they are handling everything, the last thing they want to happen.
Dude had a 5.49 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP BEFORE that game started. What is the avg career length of a guy rocking those numbers? He was also making the minimum and was optioned and put on waivers but NO TEAM claimed him earlier in the season and sent back to AAA before coming back up and getting shelled.
My real concern here is if Bolsinger gets anything. Anything at all. For if he does, it could very well open the flood gates for dozens of other players to do the same. The Astros must do everything in their power to make sure this doesn't happen. To fail could have our team caught up in lawsuits all year.
I bet my signed Ensberg/Bregman Round Rock Express program that MLB and MLBPA does NOT want this to go to court. The discovery phase of a potential trial could be disastrous for everyone involved.
I would absolutely take this to court and have the Astros show a list of every major league inning this jackass pitched. As @Redfish81 said, dude already had an era north of 5 going into that inning. 1 good inning was only going to delay the inevitable.
Honestly I wouldn't mind it if they reach discovery. It's much more annoying right now to hear people talk about all the coverups and buzzers that it would be nice if everything is gotten out once and for all. I want to see how far all this stuff actually goes.