• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Power Struggle: MLBPA Arrives at Historic Juncture Over Ideology

  • Former union lawyer Marino says player representatives want a ‘different lead negotiator.’
  • Issues arrive amid several fault lines developing within the union and baseball overall.
Bruce Meyer and Tony Clark of the MLBPA
Palm Beach Post

One of the strongest unions in the U.S. over the past 50 years, in any industry, is now facing one of its toughest battles in its history. And instead of that battle happening against management, it’s occurring from within. 

The MLB Players Association, for the past week, has been enveloped in an accelerating leadership struggle in which a group of players are pushing to oust deputy director Bruce Meyer (above, left) and replace him with Harry Marino, a former MLBPA lawyer who was instrumental in the recent unionization of minor league players. Over the weekend, that battle went public with Marino, union executive director Tony Clark (above, right), and the MLBPA’s executive subcommittee each issuing public statements seeking to advance their cause. 

“Player representatives have made clear their desire to hire a different lead negotiator and pursue a different vision for collective bargaining, as well as to obtain an independent, third-party audit of the union’s financial activity,” Marino said. “The events of the past week have been messy. But the MLBPA, like all unions, is a democracy. And democracies are messy.”

Clark’s response pointed to an alleged “covert effort” to challenge the union’s historically engaged membership.

“These concerns are being discussed where they should be, in clubhouses around the league,” Clark said. “In due time, they will be resolved consistent with the traditions of this great organization.”

After further meetings over the weekend among the union’s executive subcommittee—a group of eight among the MLBPA’s 72-player board—appeared to support the status quo, at least for now.

“We still have issues to discuss, but … this is no longer a Harry Marino discussion in any respect,” the subcommittee said.

Labor and Spending Trends

The union fight is occurring amid the development of multiple fault lines within the sport, and the union. The MLBPA is still only two years removed from a bruising round of negotiations with the league, which included a 99-day lockout by the owners. Despite material gains achieved by players on multiple fronts, there remain some who believe those talks should still have yielded a better outcome. All eight members of the executive board then—including five Scott Boras clients—voted against accepting the last ownership offer, which was later approved by the full union membership. 

Spending on players is also down sharply this offseason, with player commitments this offseason amounting to about $2.9 billion, which is $1 billion less than a year ago. More than one-third of that new money is tied up in just two players: the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Many teams have cut back their spending as uncertainty regarding the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group and the overall state of local television revenue have roiled the industry. 

The labor organizing of the minor leaguers, meanwhile, created an entirely new power structure within the union. The MLBPA’s executive board expanded last summer from 38 members to 72 to accommodate and reflect that expanded membership, and those 34 seats held by minor leaguers often bring different sets of concerns, experiences, and goals. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) reacts after giving up a home run during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.

MLB Pitcher’s Paid Leave Extended Through August As Betting Probe Continues

Leagues have been dealing with a host of sports betting issues.

Golf’s Prize Money Boom Is Slowing Down

There is no purse increase at The Open Championship.

WNBA Stars Say Zero Progress Made at CBA Meeting

The WNBA and its union had their first in-person meeting Thursday.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Feb 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Calais Campbell (middle) receives the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award from executive director Lloyd Howell (left) and president) JC Tretter (right) at the NFLPA Press Conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

What Comes Next After NFLPA Chief’s Sudden Resignation?

Howell quit on his own accord; he was not forced out.
Lloyd Howell
July 18, 2025

Scandal-Ridden NFLPA Chief Lloyd Howell Quits

The union executive director stepped down late Thursday night.
July 18, 2025

New NFLPA Head Will Face Multibillion-Dollar Decisions

The next NFLPA leader will wrestle with a series of pressing issues.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 17, 2025

Unrivaled Founder Says Growing League Has ‘No Conflict’ With WNBA

Alex Bazzell co-founded Unrivaled with Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
exclusive
July 17, 2025

WNBA, Union Make Little Progress on CBA at All-Star Meeting

Over 40 players showed up for labor negotiations with the league.
July 17, 2025

Cleveland’s WNBA Team Follows Golden State’s Proven Blueprint

The franchise will play its first WNBA season in 2028.
July 17, 2025

MLB’s Largest Payrolls Could Swell Further at Trade Deadline

As the MLB trade deadline nears, anxiety grows around the sport.