Major League Baseball still has two and a half seasons to go before the expiration of their current labor agreement with the MLB Players Association, but a minor news item announced Friday could have significant repercussions down the line.
MLBPA lawyer Rick Shapiro departed on Thursday, and his exit has reportedly been viewed with some trepidation within the sport. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Shapiro was viewed as a dealmaker, and his departure raised concerns that a potential strike is more likely than previously feared.
The departure of top players union lawyer Rick Shapiro may not be big national news but it’s sparked concern that a strike’s likelihood is even greater than feared. Shapiro, like Mike Weiner, was seen as a dealmaker. Additionally his knowledge of arbitration was vital for players
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 20, 2019
The current labor agreement runs through 2021, but given the state of free agency and other issues, some players have been floating the idea for a while. A lot can change in two years, but there’s certainly some discontent right now. Whether that can be addressed in the next negotiation remains to be seen, but the fears are there.
