Report: White Sox players didn’t pay clubhouse dues in Seattle

Chris Sale isn’t the only White Sox player to object to a directive from management this month.

After their series in Seattle last week, Sox players left town without paying clubhouse dues and tips in protest of the Mariners’ new policy that puts 60 percent of the dues into an account managed by the team, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday.

Mariners general manger Jerry Dipoto said the Sox were the first team not to pay the visiting clubhouse manager, but he said other clubs have been curious about the policy.

The Sox refused to pay because Mariners management made itself part of a financial relationship that has existed between players and “clubbies.”

A group of Sox players, including player representative Adam Eaton, met with Mariners assistant GM Jeff Kingston during the three-game series July 18-20 to convey their concern that the majority of their dues wasn’t going to the clubhouse manager.

“Jeff walked them through the detail of what we’re doing,” Dipoto said. “There has been some curiosity with other teams in the league, but nobody reacted the way the White Sox did. The fact that they decided to leave town without paying, clearly it’s their choice. There’s no rule that says you must.”

Most teams allow the visiting clubhouse manager to handle dues and individual tips. He uses the money to purchase food and other items for the players and redistributes a percentage of the tips to his assistants.

The Mariners’ policy allows Bopp to receive 40 percent of the dues plus all of the tips, in addition to his salary from the club, Dipoto said. The other 60 percent of the dues helps pay for food and the salaries of clubhouse assistants.