Tony Clark to Resign As MLBPA Executive Director
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark is expected to announce his resignation on Tuesday, according to multiple reporters from The Athletic. The stunning news comes as Clark was under investigation by the Eastern District of New York for “alleged financial improprieties,” according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
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The MLBPA was set to start its annual tour of spring training facilities to talk with players, but the meeting was “abruptly cancelled,” according to Passan.
Clark and the union have been under a federal probe by the Eastern District of New York concerning using “licensing money and equity to enrich themselves,” per Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal and Andy McCullough of The Athletic. Clark has headed the union since 2013. He, nor his lawyer or MLBPA, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from news organizations.
The MLBPA’s collective bargaining agreement ends with MLB after this season, so now, one of major sports’ strongest unions is without an executive director as negotiations were expected to take more formal proceedings after Opening Day. A lockout is expected, with a salary cap seen as the major issue dividing the players and owners. Clark strongly opposes a cap.
Marcus Semien, the Mets’ player rep for the MLBPA, said he had no advanced warning of Clark’s resignation, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Semien is in a more senior leadership role on the executive subcommittee.
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