Brent Suter, a left-handed pitcher for the Angels and member of the eight-player executive subcommittee of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), shared insights with The Athletic’s Sam Blum regarding the future leadership of the union. Suter emphasized that the union has an interim director in mind and is focused on maintaining stability amidst ongoing changes, stating, “We’re going to have an interim [director] and keep everything as stable as we can this year.”
The developments come on the heels of reports that Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLBPA since 2013, is set to announce his resignation. This follows an investigation into potential financial improprieties, including allegations that Clark may have improperly secured equity in OneTeam Partners, a partnership between the MLBPA and NFLPA, and insufficiently disclosing finances related to Players Way, a youth baseball initiative owned by the MLBPA that is currently under federal scrutiny.
Clark was scheduled to begin a series of spring visits to all 30 MLB teams but had to cancel the first meeting with the Guardians on the same morning of the announcement. Expectations are that a formal statement regarding his resignation will be made later today.
Marcus Semien, another member of the MLBPA executive subcommittee, indicated that the ongoing investigation into the use of licensing money is a key factor in this leadership change. While the subcommittee has yet to meet since the news broke, there are questions surrounding the appointment of a new director and whether Bruce Meyer, the deputy director, will continue as the union’s lead negotiator.
The timing of these developments is particularly significant, as the current collective bargaining agreement expires in just over nine months. The previous negotiations, under Clark’s leadership, were marked by intense conflict, culminating in a lengthy offseason lockout. Observers anticipate a similarly contentious atmosphere in the upcoming discussions, especially with some MLB owners advocating for a salary cap—something that has traditionally been rejected by the players’ association. Clark has consistently opposed this approach, and with the impending leadership transition, the future direction of negotiations remains uncertain.
The situation presents both challenges and opportunities for the MLBPA as it navigates the intricacies of leadership change while preparing for crucial negotiations ahead.