New MLBPA Leader, Same Stance on Salary Caps

Bruce Meyer is now in place as the interim executive director of the MLB Players Association, but the core thinking of the players is entirely unchanged: They are not prepared to accept a salary cap. 

Making his first extended public comments after being elected to the post late Wednesday, Meyer reiterated that the beliefs that have guided the union for its entire six-decade existence are fully intact. A salary cap, however, has come sharply into focus as it’s widely expected that owners will seek one this year in what are projected to be fractious labor talks. The current labor deal between MLB and MLBPA expires Dec. 1.

“We don’t believe in a system that’s basically a zero-sum game that says if we pay you, we’ve got to take that out of the pocket of another player,” said Meyer, who succeeds Tony Clark, who resigned earlier this week. “That’s how the other systems work. … What happens is the top guys get paid and then everyone else gets what’s left over.”

That sentiment runs against a fast-rising fiscal divide between high-revenue clubs and low-revenue ones, as well as the fact that every other major pro sports league in North America uses a salary cap. The Guardians, fielding the league’s second-lowest player payroll, were the latest to say they cannot sign top free agents in the current system, and MLB has increasingly talked about the perceived competitive imbalance as the formal labor talks approach. 

Meyer, however, says any cap-type structure moves fundamentally away from the players’ belief in a market-based system.

“We believe in a meritocracy,” he said. “We believe in a system, and players believe in a system that rewards players for performance.”

Before the collective bargaining talks begin, though, there has been a moment of rapprochement between Meyer and MLB.

“[MLB deputy commissioner] Dan Halem gave me a call [Wednesday night] and he was very nice, very gracious, very classy,” Meyer said. “Despite occasional reports of the contrary, we have a good relationship, a professional relationship, and I appreciate it.”

Turning the Page

The MLBPA, meanwhile, is looking to move forward as Clark’s resignation came as he is under investigation for alleged financial mismanagement of licensing revenue, as well as an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law—also a union employee.

“I’m obviously not happy with the circumstances that led up to [the resignation],” Meyer said. “I feel for Tony as we all do. None of us expected this, and can’t say that anybody is celebrating anything at this point, but I’ve been representing players in all the unions for almost 40 years. So I’ve dedicated my career to protecting and advancing player rights, and it’s something I’ve always been passionate about.”