The tension between Major League Baseball and its players union will not be going away anytime soon.
In a statement released Monday, MLBPA chief Tony Clark hit out at commissioner Rob Manfred’s comments about free agency and team payroll, decrying a “two-year attack on free agency” and urging the implementation of “substantive changes” immediately to make the game more competitive.
Union chief Tony Clark: pic.twitter.com/VzBeXsZjvB
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) February 18, 2019
Clark’s statement comes a day after Manfred suggested Bryce Harper had not helped himself when his camp set expectations of making him the first $400 million player. He was also widely derided for what many saw as tone-deaf comments about team payrolls.
Manfred said he believes the free agent market will clear (ie guys will sign) before games start. Noted that Harpers camp noting he’d be the first $400 million player years ago was probably “an impediment” to discussions this year.
— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) February 17, 2019
With Harper and Manny Machado still unsigned, it’s fair to say that players are angry at the state of the game. Clark is fundamentally correct that too many teams simply aren’t trying to compete in any meaningful way, leaving a small market for good players that isn’t being satisfied. There’s a reason at least one player fears the worst as far as labor peace goes.
