Tony Clark is expected to resign as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a move prompted by a federal investigation and the revelation of an inappropriate relationship, according to people briefed on the decision. The announcement comes as the MLBPA prepares for crucial collective bargaining negotiations this winter.
The impending resignation, first reported by The Athletic, follows an internal inquiry that uncovered Clark’s relationship with his sister-in-law, who was hired by the MLBPA in 2023. ESPN first reported details of the relationship. Simultaneously, members of the MLBPA’s eight-player executive subcommittee have been in contact with federal officials as part of an investigation by the Eastern District of New York into potential misuse of union funds, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
The Department of Justice broadened its inquiry into Clark’s activities in October, according to reporting from Diario AS. Clark, his attorney, and the MLBPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The union had planned to begin its annual spring training tour Tuesday with a meeting with the Cleveland Guardians, but that meeting was canceled, with the team notified by the MLBPA at 6 a.m. Local time. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Brent Suter, a member of the executive subcommittee, stated the union intends to announce an interim replacement and prioritize maintaining stability during the upcoming bargaining sessions, which are expected to begin this summer.
“We just need to preserve everything as stable as we can this year,” Suter said.
Bruce Meyer, the MLBPA’s deputy director, is considered the most likely interim replacement and was reportedly contacting agents Tuesday to gauge support, according to people familiar with the situation. Meyer is already slated to lead the union’s negotiations.
New York Mets infielder Marcus Semien, also a member of the executive subcommittee, attributed Clark’s decision to the federal probe. “There has been an investigation going on,” Semien told reporters. “We still need to discuss with players why. You definitely don’t want things to be a distraction going into December.”
Other members of the executive subcommittee, including San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth, sought to downplay the impact of Clark’s departure. “The ship is strong,” Cronenworth said. “We just need to make the right decisions today and moving forward, and we’ll be just fine.”
The resignation occurs as the MLBPA and owners prepare for potentially contentious negotiations, with the current collective bargaining agreement expiring after the season. Owners are increasingly advocating for a salary cap, a proposal strongly opposed by the union, which believes it would not improve competitive balance. Clark and Meyer both oppose a salary cap.
Meyer recently represented the Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal in a landmark arbitration case, securing a $32 million salary for 2026 for the pitcher. Skubal expressed continued confidence in Meyer’s negotiating abilities. “I don’t think it has any impact on negotiating,” Skubal said. “Bruce has been our lead negotiator. He’s done it in the past.”
Clark assumed the role of executive director in December 2013 following the death of Michael Weiner, having previously served as the union’s player relations director. He brought in Meyer in 2018 to assist with CBA negotiations, drawing on Meyer’s experience advising Don Fehr with the NHL Players’ Association.
The current CBA was reached after a 99-day lockout following the 2021 season. The upcoming negotiations are expected to be even more challenging, with owners citing financial concerns and a desire for greater cost certainty. Prior to the 2017-21 agreement, talks were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Clark and Meyer faced internal criticism even before the federal investigation, with some players, agents, and a former MLBPA attorney pushing for new leadership. The investigation centered, in part, on Players Way, a for-profit arm of the MLBPA focused on youth baseball, which spent nearly $10 million despite limited activity, according to ESPN reporting. Clark defended the spending, stating that Players Way had been consistently discussed and supported by the union’s membership.
Miami Marlins reliever Pete Fairbanks acknowledged the mixed feelings surrounding Clark’s tenure. “There’s people that like Tony, We find people that don’t like Tony, but as a whole, where we are now comparatively to where we were 10 years ago, is a much better spot,” Fairbanks said.
