GOODYEAR, Arizona − The story of Tony Clark’s resignation as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) was still spreading through the Cincinnati Reds’ clubhouse as players were asked to respond to the development.
The resignation was first reported in the morning in the Mountain Time zone, and it probably constituted a jarring start to the second day of full-squad workouts at Reds camp for some of the players.
Clark resigned amid a federal investigation. The move left the union without its leader of 15 years in the midst of preparations for the expiration of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement. The labor dispute that many expect to could be a long one that threatens the 2027 season.
Talk of imposing a salary cap on baseball clubs means the forthcoming labor talks have implications for every MLB market, and maybe more so in midsize markets like Cincinnati.
Later Feb. 17, an ESPN report revealed Clark’s resignation was coupled to an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had been hired by MLBPA.
Prior to the day’s workout, Reds closer Emilio Pagán said he was still attempting to gather information about Clark’s resignation. The lack of hard facts made it hard for Pagán to comment on certain aspects of the situation, except that he remained confident in the rest of the MLBPA leadership.
MLBPA representatives on Feb. 17 were to begin a tour of the league’s spring training complexes in order to get all players on the same page about bargaining positions and other related issues. One of the first tour stops was to be at the Cleveland Guardians’ complex, which is back-to-back with the Reds’ on Wood Boulevard in Goodyear.
“We’ve got so many good guys that have been working alongside Tony for the last number of years that I don’t see too much of a problem with somebody stepping into that leadership role,