Tony Clark resigned as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on Tuesday after an internal investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship with an employee, as first reported by The Athletic.
Clark, who is also facing a federal investigation for mishandling union finances, was asked to step down by player leadership. The MLBPA is now in the process of finding an interim director and could make a selection as soon as Wednesday.
“The full executive board of Player representatives met this afternoon with MLBPA staff and outside counsel to discuss next steps; as always, the Players remain focused on their ongoing preparations for collective bargaining this year,” the union’s statement read.
“The strength of this union is — and will always be — the solidarity of our membership. We have a long history of fighting for the rights of every Player, and we’re committed to making sure we can continue that fight successfully.”
Clark originally joined the MLBPA staff as director of player relations in 2010 at the conclusion of a 15-year playing career. He took over as executive director in 2013 following the death of Michael Weiner. He was the first former player to serve in the role.
Clark would have been at the forefront of new 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.
One of the biggest issues dividing the sides is the potential implementation of a salary cap. Clark had stated that he is strongly against one and doesn’t believe it would help competitive balance in MLB.
Who will replace Tony Clark as MLBPA executive director?
Bruce Meyer, who led the bargaining for the players during the 2021-2022 lockout, is considered the favorite to replace Clark as interim executive director of the MLBPA.
However, the union stopped short of making the move official on Tuesday, which indicates they are least considering other candidates for the position.
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