A palpable tension simmers within the Major League Baseball Players Association as a brewing conflict threatens to fracture the unity of the players’ union.
Reports have surfaced indicating a rift in leadership, with calls for the removal of deputy director Bruce Meyer and the promotion of former MLBPA lawyer Harry Marino, potentially escalating into a significant internal struggle.
Players Reportedly Pressuring MLBPA Director Tony Clark To Replace Deputy Director Bruce Meyer https://t.co/JdLO8FDSlE pic.twitter.com/vuZOEa5Zc6
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 19, 2024
The revelation, detailed in a shocking report by The Athletic, underscores mounting discontent among player representatives at both minor and major league levels.
The call for Meyer’s ousting and Marino’s ascension gained momentum during a charged Monday night conference call, characterized as “long and sometimes heated.”
rosters being finalized… opening day starters announced… mutiny in the mlbpa… baseball is back pic.twitter.com/RmA5Pg1pdC
— rae ✨ (@treslechec) March 19, 2024
The pressure on executive director Tony Clark intensified during the call, which saw participation from numerous player representatives spanning the minor and major leagues.
Although an informal vote transpired during the discussion, no immediate action was taken.
The call, organized by Clark, followed the circulation of a text chain among player reps expressing doubts regarding Meyer’s leadership.
NEW: Scott Boras railed against Harry Marino’s attempted ouster of MLBPA leadership, saying Marino had undertaken a “coup” that should “never be done.”
Marino shot back that Boras' support of Tony Clark was "alarming," and insinuated Boras is slippinghttps://t.co/J3u0F3faeR
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 19, 2024
Central to the conflict appears to be the perceived influence of agent Scott Boras within the union – a concern raised by several agents over time.
Additionally, dissatisfaction with the union’s direction and calls for increased financial resources allocation towards the bargaining team have fueled discontent among players.
"Attempted coup"@HannahRKeyser dishes on reporting of MLBPA's recent dynamics, discussing potential leadership changes and the complexities of CBA negotiations.
▶️ https://t.co/n34phlH3JK pic.twitter.com/3isDMzQlan
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 19, 2024
The strained relationship between Meyer and Marino further exacerbates the situation.
The animosity between the two figures traces back to their collaboration on the minor league collective bargaining agreement last year.
During negotiations, Marino, formerly associated with the nonprofit Advocates for Minor Leaguers, played a pivotal role in securing favorable terms for minor league players before departing from the MLBPA.
Meanwhile, Meyer joined the MLBPA in 2018 ahead of negotiations for the current collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball.
I guess @MLBPA is OK with this https://t.co/ir4D9VSoeZ
— Stu Clary (@hecanfoos) March 19, 2024
What are your thoughts on the drama building within the MLBPA?
Clearly, Boras is an enormous figure in the feud … Is he good or bad for baseball as a whole?
What do you think will end up happening???
It seems bad.
— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) March 19, 2024