The Major League Baseball Players Association is navigating a period of significant upheaval as longtime Executive Director Tony Clark has resigned, effective immediately. The move comes after an internal investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship with a union employee – his sister-in-law – and as the MLBPA faces a separate federal investigation into its finances.
Clark’s departure, announced on Tuesday, , throws the union into uncertainty just months before the current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1st. The timing is particularly sensitive, with both sides bracing for what is expected to be a contentious negotiation, potentially leading to another lockout.
The internal investigation was triggered by the ongoing federal probe by the Eastern District of New York, according to sources. The MLBPA retained outside counsel from the firm of Morrison Foerster, who uncovered messages between Clark and his sister-in-law, who was hired by the union in . Clark was interviewed as part of the review on , and the findings were presented to the MLBPA’s eight-player executive subcommittee over the weekend, leading to a request for his resignation on .
Neither Clark, his attorney, nor the MLBPA immediately responded to requests for comment.
The immediate future of the union’s leadership remains unclear. While Deputy Executive Director Bruce Meyer, who led the players’ bargaining during the lockout, is a natural candidate to take the helm, the executive subcommittee and player representatives did not vote to name an interim leader during a conference call held on Tuesday evening. A second call is scheduled for , where a vote on new leadership could take place.
“I feel we have made mistakes in the past by making rushed decisions,” said Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt, a member of the subcommittee. “The executive subcommittee and all the reps agreed we want to get this right. We don’t want to get it done just because there’s a void.”
The disruption extended to the MLBPA’s planned spring training tour. A scheduled meeting with the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday morning was canceled, leaving the team informed by the union at 6 a.m. Local time. Meyer reportedly spent Tuesday contacting agents to gauge support for his potential leadership bid.
The news of Clark’s resignation, first reported by The Athletic, arrived as players were beginning workouts in Arizona, and Florida. New York Mets infielder and executive subcommittee member Marcus Semien attributed the decision to the federal probe, stating, “There has been an investigation going on… You definitely don’t want things to be a distraction going into December.”
Despite the turmoil, some members of the executive subcommittee attempted to project an image of stability. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Brent Suter described the union as “strong,” while San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth echoed a similar sentiment.
However, the resignation occurs against a backdrop of increasing tension between owners and players. Owners are widely expected to lock out the players following the expiration of the current CBA, mirroring the tactic employed after the season, which resulted in a 99-day lockout. The upcoming negotiations are anticipated to be even more challenging, with owners increasingly vocal about the need for a salary cap – a concept strongly opposed by the MLBPA, who believe it would not improve competitive balance.
Clark, alongside Meyer, has been a staunch opponent of a salary cap. Both have argued that such a system would be detrimental to the players and would not address the underlying issues of competitive disparity. Meyer recently demonstrated his commitment to player rights by successfully certifying the rebuttal in Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal’s landmark arbitration case, securing a $32 million salary for for the pitcher.
Skubal expressed confidence in Meyer’s ability to lead negotiations, stating, “I don’t think it has any impact on negotiating. Bruce has been our lead negotiator. He’s done it in the past. Although Tony has been the face of the PA in terms of negotiating, I’m still as confident as ever in Bruce and everyone else that we’ve got behind him.”
Clark assumed the role of MLBPA Executive Director in , following the death of Michael Weiner. He had previously served in player relations and oversaw two rounds of collective bargaining negotiations – in and . He brought Meyer on board in , recognizing his experience advising former NHLPA chief Don Fehr.
The relationship between the owners and players has been strained since before the agreement expired, particularly during the season when the sport was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those contentious talks foreshadowed the extended lockout that followed. While a deal was eventually reached on , avoiding canceled games, the threat of another work stoppage has loomed large ever since.
Even prior to the federal probe, Clark and Meyer faced internal criticism within the union, with some players, agents, and a former MLBPA attorney advocating for new leadership. This discontent coincided with increased scrutiny surrounding Players Way, a for-profit arm of the MLBPA focused on youth baseball.
Founded in , Players Way reportedly spent close to $10 million despite hosting a limited number of events. This expenditure, exceeding the $3.9 million initially reported to ESPN, raised questions about the organization’s financial practices. Clark defended the investment, asserting that it had been consistently discussed and supported by player representatives.
the investigation into Players Way, coupled with the inappropriate relationship, proved to be the catalyst for Clark’s resignation. Despite differing opinions on his leadership, Miami Marlins reliever and executive subcommittee member Pete Fairbanks acknowledged Clark’s long-standing commitment to advocating for players.
“There’s people that like Tony, You’ll see people that don’t like Tony, but as a whole, where we are now comparatively to where we were 10 years ago, is a much better spot,” Fairbanks said. “Dealing with this will be its own separate entity in terms of where it goes and what it does for Tony Clark in people’s estimations, but he’s been a steadfast voice that’s been fighting for players for some time now, and I don’t think we should discount that.”
