Baseball Teams Ruled Guilty of Conspiring Against Free Agents

NEW YORK —  Baseball teams conspired against signing free agents after the 1986 season, an arbitrator ruled today, finding club owners guilty of collusion for a second consecutive year.

George Nicolau ruled clubs violated a provision in the collective-bargaining agreement that prevents teams from acting in concert. Another arbitrator ruled last Sept. 21 that owners conspired against free agents after the 1985 season.

The Collusion II case centers on eight players who went past the deadline to re-sign with their former clubs--Doyle Alexander, Bob Boone, Andre Dawson, Rich Gedman, Ron Guidry, Bob Horner, Lance Parrish and Tim Raines.

Damage hearings will be held, and the union is expected to ask that the players be made free agents again. Dawson, who is signed with the Chicago Cubs through the 1989 season, has waived his right to become a free agent.

Seven players were granted renewed free agency last winter because of the Collusion I case, and Kirk Gibson left the Detroit Tigers for the Los Angeles Dodgers.