MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark to resign amid union investigation
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MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark is resigning in the wake of the Eastern District of New York’s investigation into alleged financial improprieties at the union.
Tony Clark is reportedly set to step down as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to a report from Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal and Andy McCullough of The Athletic. Clark, 53, has led the union since 2013.
Clark and the MLBPA have been the subject of scrutiny since last summer amid allegations tied to the handling of licensing revenue.
Reports indicate Clark previously granted himself equity in OneTeam Partners, a business venture formed between the MLBPA and the National Football League Players Association.
In addition, questions have been raised about whether the union fully disclosed how many resources were being allocated to Players Way, a youth baseball initiative owned by the MLBPA that is currently under federal investigation.
Tony Clark plans to resign as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, sources tell @DVNJr and me. Clark’s resignation comes in the wake of the Eastern District of New York’s investigation into alleged financial improprieties at the union.
Clark had been slated to begin his annual spring training tour, visiting each of the league’s 30 clubs. However, his first scheduled stop — a meeting with the Cleveland Guardians — was suddenly called off.
A formal announcement is expected later today, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Tony Clark is expected to resign as the head of the Players Association as The Athletic first reported. An annual camp tour by Clark that was to begin with the Guardians today was cancelled. A statement from the MLBPA is expected at some point today.
Clark's reported upcoming resignation comes at a pivotal moment for MLB.
Major League Baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in just over nine months.
The previous round of negotiations between the Clark-led union and Commissioner Rob Manfred and the league’s ownership group proved highly contentious, culminating in a 99-day lockout that froze offseason transactions.
Many around the game anticipate an even more heated round of talks this time. Several team owners have publicly advocated for the introduction of a salary cap system — a proposal the union has historically rejected outright.
Even with the possibility of pairing a cap with a salary floor, the players association has consistently opposed such measures.
Clark, in particular, has been outspoken in his firm resistance to any form of salary cap throughout his tenure.
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FEVRIER 17|151 ANSWERS MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark to resign amid union investigation Do you think there will be an MLB lockout in 2027? | ||
| Yes | 74 | 49 % |
| No | 40 | 26.5 % |
| Too early to tell | 37 | 24.5 % |
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