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New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Rob Manfred recruited a star-studded group of retired players. The union sees trouble
The Major League Baseball Players Association believes commissioner Rob Manfred is trying to use the clout of highly respected, retired big leaguers to undermine the union and convince today's players to accept a salary cap. In 2023, Manfred formed a group called the Commissioner's Ambassador Program, or CAP. Participants travel to significant league and community events, and also serve as liaisons to current and future players. MLB has quickly built up a robust roster of 19 players, highlighted by CC Sabathia, who will be inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame on Sunday. Two other recent greats, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, are in CAP's leadership as well. Advertisement But CAP's founding has also created tension and an awkwardness with the group that has historically served as the liaison between the players and the commissioner's office: the union. Tony Clark, the head of the MLBPA and a playing contemporary of virtually all of the ambassadors, last week told The Athletic that he has advised players in CAP 'to stay away from the conversations about labor.' Earlier in July, MLBPA's second-in-command, deputy Bruce Meyer, was critical of the program on the television show Foul Territory. 'I obviously wasn't a player,' Meyer, a lawyer, said during that appearance. 'All due respect to anybody who played the game, and in terms of what guys choose to do in their post-careers, I'm not going to question that. I will say, there are players who are being paid by MLB and who are going with Rob to the locker rooms and trying to sell players on a system that this union has historically thought was bad for players, and that they themselves didn't have to live under when they played.' Manfred has been touring clubhouses this season, suggesting players have lost billions over the years because they have been unwilling to change the game's economics.. At times, he has been accompanied by CAP members. 'Players know when they see those guys in the locker room, with Rob pitching a system that the league wants — players know those guys are getting paid,' Meyer continued on Foul Territory. 'It may be great players. It may be former teammates, it may be guys they respect. But I think players take it for what it is. Players understand what's going on.' When approached by The Athletic at baseball's All-Star Game in Atlanta last week, Manfred countered that, 'They're not out there carrying my water on what I think on any topic, forget labor.' CAP participant Dexter Fowler said on Foul Territory recently that players in the program just want to grow the game. Fowler and two other CAP members declined interview requests for this story. Efforts by The Athletic to reach a fourth CAP participant were unsuccessful. The group did not come out of the blue. When baseball's lockout ended in 2022, Manfred publicly committed to doing more to build relationships with his workforce, an area he admitted he had fallen short. CAP is part of that effort. 'They do a wide variety of things for us,' Manfred said before the All-Star Game. 'They're here, provide a presence at special events. They have worked with us on our international (efforts). They have been a source of content creation. They've helped me in terms of on-field issues. They've helped us in terms of dialogue with players.' Advertisement The commissioner also began to meet annually with virtually every team as part of his reconciliatory effort. But those visits have become controversial because the MLBPA believes Manfred is using those settings — and the CAP players who are sometimes in tow — to launder his bargaining positions. At least one CAP player, Sabathia, holds an additional role with the commissioner's office beyond his position as an ambassador. 'I will tell you, 100 percent, in most player meetings, I do all the talking,' Manfred said. '(Ambassadors) may be with me. They may listen afterwards. … I don't say this, but, you know, some players would rather not ask a question of me, OK? Whatever's said in there comes from me. Afterwards, if they want to talk, if they have a question that they want to ask (the ambassadors), they ask them.' Manfred has said that his message to players is not centered on a particular solution, a cap or otherwise. Much of his message, as he has publicly described it, however, is suggestive of a cap. 'I never use the word salary within one of cap,' he said last week. Ultimately, Manfred believes he has heard the criticism and done what he promised: built a bridge to the current players. He thinks the union now does not want to reap what it sowed. CAP carries a more star-studded roster than the union's own cadre of former players, issuing what appears almost a quiet challenge to the MLBPA to keep up. Besides Howard, Rollins and Sabathia, CAP includes Dellin Betances, Michael Bourn, Prince Fielder, Dexter Fowler, Jeremy Guthrie, LaTroy Hawkins, Adam Jones, Andruw Jones, Jason Kendall, Kenny Lofton, Jed Lowrie, Gary Sheffield, Denard Span, Nick Swisher, Justin Upton, Shane Victorino and Chris Young (the outfielder). The public dust-up over CAP began at the start of July when two former players had a tense discussion on TV. Former big leaguer A.J. Pierzynski, one of the hosts of Foul Territory, asked pointed questions of Fowler during a long back-and-forth. Advertisement 'My question as a former player: What side are you on?' Pierzynski asked at one point. 'Because you work for the commissioner, and then so Rob's giving you his side, but then Tony and the union has a different side.' 'We're on baseball's side,' Fowler replied twice. 'I understand that, but there's two sides to it,' Pierzynski said. 'I don't think you have to pick a side,' Fowler said. A short while later, Pierzynski asked Fowler why he didn't work for the union instead. 'We are,' Fowler said. 'Us going to talk to players is working with the union, right? … We're forming basically our own opinions on what is going on, and giving honest feedback to Rob about the player side, even the management side.' About a week after Fowler's interview, Meyer, the players' lead negotiator during collective bargaining, appeared on Foul Territory and was asked about a wide range of labor-related topics, including CAP. At the All-Star Game, The Athletic asked Pierzynski what prompted the line of questioning about the program. 'As a former player, I only know the player's side,' Pierzynski said. 'When you see players go work for the commissioner — I have no problem with Rob — but when you see that, I want to hear their side. And Dex was great. He was perfect with his answer, and I have no problem with it. I see where he's coming from, I see what he's doing: 'We're about growing the game, and that's it.'' But conversations about player relationships with management are always going to be touchy. 'Players try to unite, and then the owners want to unite,' Pierzynski continued. 'So I think it just gets complicated, it gets ugly because it's a negotiation like anything else. It shouldn't be that complicated, but it always ends up complicated.' Said Clark in Atlanta: 'Once you're a part of the fraternity, you'll always be a part of the fraternity. There are challenges that we have to navigate.' (Top photo of Rob Manfred and CC Sabathia talking before Game 1 of the 2023 World Series: Cooper Neill / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Forgotten veterans of MLB: Why pre-1980 retirees earn a fraction of modern pensions
Former right-handed pitcher Jerry Hinsley is one of just over 500 retirees who are not receiving adequate benefits from either MLB or the MLB Players Association. In 1980, to avoid a strike, an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA changed the eligibility for players' health coverage to just one game day and 43 game days for monthly benefits. Players originally needed four years of service to be eligible for a pension. However, this agreement didn't grandfather in pre-1980 players like Hinsley, who earned two trials with the New York Mets in 1964 and 1967 and worked in road construction to make ends meet during the offseason. Hinsley pitched 20.1 innings in 11 career games and has more than 43 game days in MLB, but less than four years of service. Hinsley didn't respond to multiple interview requests from the Sun-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. He is not a vested retiree. Per an awards program that began in 2011, Hinsley can receive $718.75 for every 43 game days, up to a maximum of $11,500. A vested retiree can earn up to $275K, according to the IRS, but Hinsley only earns a gross check of $2,100 for his three months of MLB service before taxes are taken out. Since these payments aren't inherited by relatives or beneficiaries, they will cease when the 80-year-old Hinsley dies. Those who have fought for changes to help those like Hinsley don't hold back in their opinions. In case you missed it: Americans love pensions. Where did they go? Will they ever return? "It's absolutely pathetic, and a blight on the game that men such as Jerry are being treated like this," said Douglas Gladstone, author of the 2010 book "A Bitter Cup of Coffee," which details the plight of pre-1980s MLB players in receiving better pensions. "They have been consigned to the sports' garbage heap, and all the union can do is agree to throw them the BS stipend these men are thrown every February." The MLBPA, which declined to comment, has stalled on a solution. MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark, the first former player to hold the position, has never spoken publicly about Hinsley and others. Meanwhile, MLB Retired Players Association Director Kurt Bevacqua bemoans the MLBPA's lack of communication. Bevacqua says he's gathered a group of attorneys to find out why the MLBPA has been so silent. While he's not ready to release the documents and information they've acquired, he says it'll eventually bring them to the negotiating table. "In my mind, I've got a bullet in my gun for the non-vested guys to be able to fight for them, and I also have a bullet in the gun for the widow's benefits," Bevacqua said. "Hopefully, we have the Players Association come and say, 'What can we do to fix this?' So that's where we are." Mike Port, a former San Diego Padres general manager and MLB's vice president for umpiring from 2005 to 2011, says a potential solution could be giving Hinsley and others around $25,000 to $30,000 a year, which amounts to roughly $12.5 million to $15 million every year for everyone. MLB announced $12.1 billion in revenue last season, while the value of the MLBPA's benefit plan was reported at $2.7 billion in assets in 2018. Port calls on both organizations to come together and pay retired players like Hinsley more. "I have to think, given the people who are at MLB, given the people who are at the Players Association and their degree of intelligence, the things that they've accomplished... they should be able to get together and fathom something that would take care of this group of players," Port said. Gladstone and Bevacqua put the onus on the MLBPA to approach MLB about giving pre-1980 players more benefits. They both believe that if the MLBPA fought for it during negotiations for its collective bargaining agreement with MLB (which expires after the 2026 season), men like Hinsley would have a greater chance of receiving more money. 'It is a disgrace that today's players' union won't go to bat for these old-timers, many of whom walked picket lines and went without paychecks all so that today's players could enjoy free agency," Gladstone said. Those fighting for pre-1980 players are in a race against time. Port and Bevacqua both believe the MLB and MLBPA are waiting for the group to die out, as a collective that was once over 1,250, according to Bevacqua, has now decreased by more than half. The longer both organizations stall, the older the retirees get. Bevacqua says the fight will continue for those still living, like Hinsley, but hopes he and others receive what they're owed before it's too late. "It wouldn't take very much to put the money aside and to make a fund up where these guys could be vested. I mean, there are only 500 of them left," Bevacqua said. "We're not getting any younger. These guys are going to continue to die off. They're dying every day."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manfred's High-Risk Gamble: Bypassing MLB Union for Direct Player Talks
Dive into MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's bold strategy of communicating directly with players, sidestepping union leaders like Tony Clark, as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) heads toward expiration on December 1, 2026. This high-risk, high-reward approach aims to sway rank-and-file players on key issues, potentially including a salary cap, echoing the 2021 deal where players overruled executives. Explore the potential threats to union unity, personality clashes between leaders, and how this could reshape baseball's labor landscape—leading to a lockout or revolutionary changes? If you're into MLB drama, sports labor negotiations, or behind-the-scenes strategy, this clip breaks it all down!
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
MLB extends paid leave for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz amid gambling investigation
CLEVELAND — Major League Baseball and the player's association have agreed to extend Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz's paid administrative leave through Aug. 31 'while MLB continues its investigation,' the league announced Friday. Ortiz is the subject of a gambling investigation, multiple sources told The Athletic earlier this month. He was originally placed on leave on July 3, when he was scheduled to start for the Guardians against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Instead, he flew back to Cleveland the night before when the team was informed of the news. Advertisement Ortiz's leave was set to expire Friday before the extension. 'We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation,' the Guardians said in a statement Friday. Ortiz is permitted to have contact with the organization, but he is prohibited from visiting Progressive Field or any other Guardians facility. One team official said the club was approaching the situation as if Ortiz were injured, with no timetable for return. At the start of the week, the Guardians mapped out their rotation coming out of the All-Star break, and Ortiz was not included. He has not pitched since June 27. A year ago, MLB punished five players for varying gambling offenses, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who wagered on his own team, even though he didn't appear in any of the games in which he placed bets. Four other players received a one-year suspension. Ortiz's situation might be different, though. The league is examining whether Ortiz was pre-determining the outcome of certain pitches, based on betting patterns that were flagged by a betting integrity firm. According to ESPN, two particular pitches from June are in question. In both instances, Ortiz missed the strike zone with a first-pitch slider. Rule 21d(2) in the MLB handbook states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.' Rule 21d(3) states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.' Advertisement The league office declined to comment on anything related to the investigation. The Guardians traded second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays in November in a three-team arrangement that brought Ortiz to Cleveland. The Guardians acquired who they hoped could become a pillar of their rotation. Ortiz signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 19-year-old international free agent in 2018, and he enjoyed a breakout season with them in 2024, with a 3.32 ERA across 135 2/3 innings. This season, Ortiz has been up and down, showing some flashes of brilliance. In his penultimate start against the Athletics on June 21, he struck out 10 over six scoreless frames. Ortiz is under the Guardians' control through the 2029 season. He is earning the league minimum of about $760,000 this year. Legalized sports betting and its omnipresent advertising have become common topics across the sport in recent years, either because of cases involving Ortiz or Marcano, or frustrated gamblers levying threats toward players. 'They surround us so much with so many advertisements, so many opportunities,' Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize told The Athletic at this week's All-Star Game festivities. 'It's just too close to us and too accessible. It makes me fearful for some guys that might get confused or accidentally click a button or whatever without even meaning to.' 'I think no matter where you are,' said Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe, 'there's gonna be one person that does things the wrong way and 99 percent that do it the right way.'
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Tony Clark says FBI investigation hasn't changed his job leading MLB players' union
ATLANTA — Asked if a federal investigation has jeopardized his work leading the baseball players' union, Tony Clark said Monday afternoon that his job is unchanged. 'My work is the same as it's always been,' Clark said during batting practice prior to the Home Run Derby at Truist Park. 'And our responsibility is to continue to protect and advance the rights of our players.' Advertisement In some of his first public comments on the matter, Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, gave little insight into the probe that has embroiled officials inside both the MLBPA and the NFL's union. The investigation, which is being conducted by the Eastern District of New York, is related to OneTeam Partners, a licensing company the two unions co-own with three other sports unions. Clark declined to say whether he personally is under investigation. Nor would he disclose what he understands the status of the probe to be or when he believes it could conclude. 'My response to those three (questions), and probably any other one you're going to ask associated with it, is going to be the same,' Clark said. 'We understand that there's an investigation. That investigation is ongoing. We have been and will continue to be fully cooperative as a result.' Clark and the players in the union have retained different outside lawyers in response to the investigation. So too have Lloyd Howell Jr., the head of the NFL Players Association, and his union. The Athletic previously reported on a move that raised alarm within one of the unions. In that instance, a proposal to modify an equity program at OneTeam Partners created controversy last year when an NFLPA official alleged that the plan had the potential to lead to union officials enriching themselves. Officials from multiple sports unions, including Howell and Clark, sit on OneTeam's board of directors. Both Clark and Howell signed a resolution last June supporting the plan. OneTeam Partners, which the NFLPA owns a 44 percent stake in and the MLBPA a 22 percent stake, said the plan was not ultimately enacted and that it was part of 'an exploratory review to determine whether the company could lawfully offer incentive-based compensation to current and prospective board members.' Advertisement OneTeam has also said that 'OneTeam is not the subject of the investigation and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in any way.' The company declined additional comment Monday. The NFLPA last winter retained an outside firm, Linklaters, to review the matter. Now, the FBI is involved. The full scope of the investigation is unclear. The Eastern District of New York has not publicly commented. It's been a long run of controversy for Clark. Just before Opening Day in 2024, some players and a former MLBPA lawyer challenged Clark and pushed him to fire his second-in-command, Bruce Meyer. Later, at the end of 2024, an anonymous complaint about Clark was filed to the National Labor Relations Board. It's a crucial time for the union with the sport's owners and players nearing another round of collective bargaining. The current agreement expires after the 2026 season, and negotiations are expected to get underway no later than next summer. 'Regardless of what is going on around us, my first focus, my second focus and my last focus is going to be to ensure that the players are educated on the things that they need to be educated on in preparation for whatever tomorrow's going to look like,' Clark said Monday when asked about the string of bad news. Commissioner Rob Manfred said in June that he was following news of the federal investigation into Clark. 'Honestly, I've read the articles. I think you would think I was somewhat negligent if I haven't,' Manfred said. 'Beyond reading the articles, there's not much for us to do. One thing: you know, I did spend a year in a federal district court when I was a kid. One thing you learn about FBI investigations: let them do their thing and stay out of their way, and that's where we are.' Manfred subsequently said players have been out of step with the MLBPA's leadership. Clark responded at the time in a statement saying Manfred was trying to divide players. (Photo of Tony Clark from 2022: Luis Magana / Associated Press)
