Over the last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks have decided they don’t want to pay former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley the remainder of his 2006 salary.  The Diamondbacks organization came to this decision because, well, he is no longer on their active  roster.  The second reason could not be clearer: he used a performance-enhancer called Human Growth Hormone, or – in now common parlance –  HGH.  Nonetheless, I believe Grimsley deserve his $800,000 plus salary.

This whole fiasco broke out in the middle of last week.  ESPN reported that Jason Grimsley had been questioned by the federal authorities about performance-enhancing drugs and he admitted using human growth hormones.  It is not know how long Grimsley used HGH but some predict he has used them as early as the 2001 season.  The sports network also reported that Grimsley gave authorities the names of 10 other baseball players who he knew used steroids or HGH.  Former Cleveland Indians’ slugger David Segui’s admission aside, these names haven’t been released, but are expected to leak out within the next couple of weeks.

Just as baseball was trying to recover from a myriad of bad press, it looks like in the next couple of weeks they will regressing as they attempt to respond to methods to test for HGH – and anything else related to the enhancer.  Although not a certainty, baseball might just be back to where it was on steroids and other growth-enhancements before the season started.

I believe the Diamondbacks should pay Jason Grimsley his salary because to do so would be to honor the letter of his contract. 

Grimsley was neither superstar nor slouch; he was an above average pitcher who helped out his team.  He was someone you could count on to give you his all.  That is why teams were interested in him.  Grimsley played in 19 games this season, compiling a 1-2 record with a 4.88 ERA, usually in middle relief or at the end in non-save situations.  I believe the money is rightfully his.

And yes, I know what he did was wrong.  I don’t forgive him.  But just think about this: why should he forfeit money for being honest and have the courage and the gumption to apologize to the Diamondbacks organization and – in the interest of team morale – asking to be released from the ball club?

I am not, however, advocating that he be rewarded for what he did.  Nor am I saying he should be respected or honored by the Diamondbacks organization.  A reward isn’t something that was rightfully his in the first place.  The only way Jason Grimsley shouldn’t be paid his money is if he says he doesn’t want it.  Not likely.  Also, if he was accused and found to be using HGH before he pitched games for the D-Backs, it should be a mute point.

Why, too, I wonder does Arizona want to pursue this publicly?   All they have to do is give Grimsley his money and then the entire scandal goes away – certainly that is worth the price of a pro-rated, past-his-prime, middle reliever’s salary.  Commissioner Bud Selig can only hope the situation is resolved in such a timely and tidy manner. 

This issue is more than a matter of dollars and cents – it is a matter of common sense.  Once Grimsley gets his money, which I am sure he will, MLB will still have many of the same problems and will continue to be second-guessed every second of the day about their testing policy.  My advice is to get past this relatively minor snafu, because there are much bigger problems right around the bend.

Just 16-years old, Andrew Uxley has a lot to say.  Disagree with his takes?  Email him at andrew.uxley@atomicsportsmedia.com.