I will still have the Red Sox news & notes post coming but I just came across this from the Boston Herald and I didn’t want it to get buried because it is a serious matter.

Yesterday, the coaches of the Red Sox found out that they will not be getting the $40,000 stipend that is being given to the players and manager.

“The only reaction I have is one of bewilderment,” said Brad Mills, the Red Sox bench coach. “I was kind of surprised by the whole thing. Everyone was under the impression we would be taken care of and kind of lumped in with the players. No one had heard or thought any different. Even when the PA came around [during spring training] they said if we hear different, we’ll get back to you.”

And now it appears as though the players aren’t happy either about this. According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox will hold a player’s only meeting this morning to consider a boycott of the Japan trip because of this issue.

According to multiple clubhouse sources, the Red Sox will be holding a players-only meeting later this morning concerning the issue regarding the coaches potentially not being paid the $40,000 allocated the players.

The sources indicated that the players will be issuing a mandate to Major League Baseball that if the coaches aren’t paid, then the team will not be getting on the plane later today for Japan.

According to one player, the agreement originally approved by the players included paying the $40,000 to the coaches.

Something tells me that the coaches will end up getting paid their money because this will be a huge embarrassment to MLB if the Red Sox decided they weren’t going to get on the plane this afternoon. It also goes to show you what they think of the coaches by even thinking about doing this.

UPDATE 9:57 AM: From Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal.

Red Sox players today voted unanimously in a closed-door meeting that they will not take the field today against the Toronto Blue Jays unless major league baseball agrees to compensate coaches for the coming trip to Japan. The game, the last before the team leaves on its season-opening trip to the Far East, is scheduled to be televised at noon on ESPN.

This was originally posted at 9 AM. It’s been bumped to the top right now due to the player’s reaction after the closed door meeting.

UPDATE 12:00 PM: The start of today’s exhibition game is being delayed by the protest. The A’s are also now involved as they protesting as well. I’m working on gathering info for an updated post. This is incredible as to what’s happening.