A surprising development took place on Tuesday with Tony Clark stepping down as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) amid multiple scandals.
Clark resigned after an internal investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship with an employee, and he is also the subject of a federal probe for allegedly mishandling union finances.
The MLBPA did not immediately name a replacement for Clark, but deputy executive director Bruce Meyer was widely considered the favorite to succeed him.
The union made the move official on Wednesday, unanimously electing Meyer as interim executive director while also elevating Matt Nussbaum to interim deputy executive director. The MLBPA released the following statement:
“The Executive Board of the Major League Baseball Players Association today voted unanimously to appoint Bruce Meyer as Interim Executive Director and Matt Nussbaum as Interim Deputy Executive Director. The board is made up of 72 Major and Minor League Players elected by their teammates to two-year terms of service.
“Previously, the Deputy Executive Director of the MLBPA, Bruce Meyer joined the union’s staff in 2018 as Senior Director, Collective Bargaining & Legal. On behalf of the union, he led negotiations on the 2022 Major League Basic Agreement, the 2020 Basic Agreement, and the 2023 Basic Agreement for Minor League Players.
“Before joining the MLBPA, Meyer was a senior advisor at the NHLPA and a partner at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where for decades he represented the Players associations in each of the major North American professional sports. Meyer will continue to act as the MBPA’s chief negotiator for the union’s next Basic Agreement, which expires in December of this year.
“An integral part of baseball’s last three collective bargaining negotiations, Matt Nussbaum first joined the MLBPA in 2011 after three years as an attorney for the NHLPA. Serving as the MLBPA’s Deputy General Counsel since 2017, he was promoted to General Counsel in 2023 and has since been responsible for managing the MLBPA’s legal department, while taking an active role in bargaining.”
Meyer originally joined the MLBPA as senior director of collective bargaining and legal in 2018. He was promoted to deputy executive director in 2022 and helped lead the union’s negotiating team that year.
Prior to joining the MLBPA, Meyer was a senior advisor for the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and a partner at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Bruce Meyer leading CBA talks for MLBPA
Meyer will now be at the forefront of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks between the league and union this spring. The upcoming negotiations are expected to continue well beyond the 2026 season, which could result in a lengthy lockout.
The biggest issue dividing the sides is the potential implementation of a salary cap, which players are strongly opposed to.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
