Astros Denied on Bagwell Claim

[TexasTerror]

Jeff Bagwell is NOT going to be able to play this year. Yes, he may play in 2007, but he can not play this year because he is fixing to have yet another surgery on his shoulder. Well, does this mean the Astros are going to get the insurance claim that they filed on Bagwell which stated he was a disabled player?

Apparently not. According to today's Houston Chronicle, "Lawyers for Astros owner Drayton McLane and Connecticut General Life Insurance are bracing for litigation over Connecticut General's decision to deny the total disability claim the Astros filed to recoup $15.6 million of disabled first baseman Jeff Bagwell's salary this year."

Bagwell gets paid regardless, but why shouldn't the Astros? He played a few spring training games at first base and had to leave those early. Dude can't throw from first to third!

This is a complete joke on the side of the insurance company. The Astros gave Bags a chance to rehab and try to get better during spring training. It did not work. Bags is going to retire, the Astros are paying him $17M for getting as much PT as Mr Chicken or ISUMatt this year. Why no insurance payout?

[AppGuy04]

Even when/if Bagwell comes back, he won't be worth anything. He is washed up, and the Stros need to realize that and part ways

[TexasTerror]

Even when/if Bagwell comes back, he won't be worth anything. He is washed up, and the Stros need to realize that and part ways

Astros know as much, but because he's meant the world to the organization (when you think of Astros, it's Bags and Biggio), they let him come to spring practice to see if he was game-ready. They owed it to him and they were stuck with his contract as is (which is why they got insurance on it).

Astros prepared for post-Bagwell life. They got Berkman to move from OF to 1B which may prolong his career and they picked up Preston Wilson. The OF will be Wilson, Willy Taveras (one of the top rookies last year in the NL) and Jason Lane. Pretty solid if you ask me...

[AppGuy04]

Astros know as much, but because he's meant the world to the organization (when you think of Astros, it's Bags and Biggio), they let him come to spring practice to see if he was game-ready. They owed it to him and they were stuck with his contract as is (which is why they got insurance on it).

Astros prepared for post-Bagwell life. They got Berkman to move from OF to 1B which may prolong his career and they picked up Preston Wilson. The OF will be Wilson, Willy Taveras (one of the top rookies last year in the NL) and Jason Lane. Pretty solid if you ask me...

Owing it to him and wasting millions of dollars are 2 very different things

[TexasTerror]

Owing it to him and wasting millions of dollars are 2 very different things

Astros were stuck to that contract. It's guaranteed money in baseball, don't ya know? It's not like other sports where you can't not guarantee it...

The contract was not signed this past year. It was signed four years ago and this year was to be the last of his contract. It was meant to be the one that ended out his career...

[Mr. C]

Typical sleaze-bucket insurance company stuff. They know they will probably eventually have to pay, but they will make the Astros take them to court, probably hoping to settle things for less money. The Astros haven't handled this very well, but still, Bagwell can't play. I was reading yesterday that he probably will need shoulder replacement surgery when he is done trying to play.

[MarkCCU]

if he is owed money, then pay him. it's that simple. Insurance companies are scams, IMO

[bandl]

if he is owed money, then pay him. it's that simple. Insurance companies are scams, IMO

The last time I was in a hospital for a lengthy stay (7 days) the bill was over $125,000. I had to pay a $25 ER fee. Seems like a scam to me. :rolleyes:

There may be more to the insurance policy than you know.

[bobcatfan06]

There goes Houston's bid for Clemens. No way they have enough cash to pay him what some of the other teams will offer him.

[UNHWildCats]

Jeff Bagwell is a class act, and while I cant be certain I would think if MLBPA allowed he would renegotiate his contract to lower its value, but as Red Sox fans found out in 2003 when A Rod agreed to restructure before a possible trade, the Players Assoc refused to let him do that.

[Tod]

The last time I was in a hospital for a lengthy stay (7 days) the bill was over $125,000. I had to pay a $25 ER fee. Seems like a scam to me. :rolleyes:

There may be more to the insurance policy than you know.

What the heck happened? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[bandl]

What the heck happened? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Ludwig's Angina...nasty stuff. Rare also.

http://www.drugs.com/enc/ludwig_s_angina.html

Thank god for health insurance! And I'm pretty thankful that there wasn't a clause in my policy that stated "no coverage for rare bacterial infections caused by a Dorito chip puncturing the roof of your mouth". :eek: :cool:

Back to topic...there may be a clause in the insurance policy, such as "The policy will not be paid if J.B. participates in any spring-training game". I wonder if there is a copy of the policy out there for all to see...for legal/HIPAA reasons, I would guess not.