Tony Clark intends to resign as MLB players’ union head, AP source says, as possible cap fight looms

Tony Clark to Resign as MLB Players Union Chief Amid Federal Investigation

Tony Clark intends to step down as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to a source familiar with the union’s plans. The decision comes during an ongoing federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn into One Team Partners, a licensing company co-founded by the baseball and football players unions with RedBird Capital Partners in 2019.

The timing of Clark’s departure is particularly significant as the union prepares for crucial labor negotiations. Collective bargaining is expected to begin in April to replace the current five-year labor agreement that expires on December 1. These talks could prove contentious as MLB owners appear poised to propose a salary cap, potentially triggering the first regular-season game cancellations due to labor disputes since 1995.

“A lot of people have known that the investigation has been going on,” said New York Mets player Marcus Semien, a member of the union’s executive subcommittee. “I think that this happening during the investigation is not overly surprising, but it still hurts and it’s still something I’m processing.”

Semien indicated that Clark’s resignation is likely related to the federal probe, saying, “Up to this point, before any investigations, I’ve had the ultimate confidence in Tony Clark to lead this player group.”

The union has already taken steps to address the investigation, with the executive subcommittee hiring Adam L. Braverman, a former U.S. associate deputy attorney general and U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, as outside counsel. In a telling move, the union also canceled Tuesday’s scheduled start of the staff’s annual tour of spring training camps.

Clark, 53, made history as the first former player to lead the powerful baseball union. An All-Star first baseman during his playing career from 1995 to 2009, he joined the union leadership shortly after attending his first executive board meeting in 1999. He was hired as the union’s director of player relations in 2010 and rose to deputy executive director in July 2013 when then-leader Michael Weiner’s health declined due to a brain tumor. Following Weiner’s death in November 2013, Clark was elevated to executive director, joining the distinguished lineage of union heads that includes Marvin Miller, Kenneth Moffett, and Donald Fehr.

During his tenure, Clark led players through two major labor negotiations. The first resulted in a December 2016 agreement finalized just hours before the previous deal was set to expire. The second came in March 2022 after a 99-day lockout, the second-longest work stoppage in MLB history.

Deputy executive director Bruce Meyer is now positioned to be the primary negotiator in the upcoming labor talks, as he was during the 2021-22 negotiations. Meyer, 64, joined the union in August 2018 after a 30-year career at law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges and a stint with the NHL Players Association. His leadership hasn’t been without controversy – in March 2024, three subcommittee members unsuccessfully advocated for his removal, with Clark backing Meyer.

The subcommittee had voted 8-0 against approving the 2022 labor contract, with Meyer pushing for more favorable terms for players. However, team player representatives voted 26-4 in favor, resulting in a 26-12 overall vote for ratification.

One Team Partners, the company at the center of the investigation, expanded significantly since its 2019 formation, adding partnerships with the players’ associations of the WNBA, MLS, NWSL, and the U.S. women’s soccer national team. RedBird Capital Partners eventually sold its stake to HPS Investment Partners, Atlantic Park Strategic Capital Fund, and Morgan Stanley Tactical Value.

The current union subcommittee includes Semien, Chris Bassitt, Jake Cronenworth, Pete Fairbanks, Cedric Mullins, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, and Brent Suter, who will now navigate the uncertain waters ahead for the players association amid leadership transition and legal scrutiny.