TAMPA, Fla. — In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, Tony Clark is expected to announce his resignation as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today, February 17, 2026. The news comes at a critical juncture for the sport, as the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to expire on December 1, 2026.
Multiple sources, including ESPN and The Athletic, reported Tuesday morning that Clark plans to step down effective immediately. The resignation coincides with a federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office into the union’s finances. Investigators have been looking into allegations regarding the potential misuse of licensing money and equity to enrich union leadership, a probe that has intensified over the last several months.
A Leadership Crisis Before the “Labor War”
Clark’s departure arrives just as he was scheduled to begin his annual tour of spring training facilities. His exit leaves the players’ union without its primary leader on the eve of what many industry insiders describe as an upcoming “labor war.” Team owners have recently signaled a hardline stance on implementing a salary cap, a proposal Clark had vowed the union would “never agree to.”
The timing is particularly precarious for the MLBPA. With the 2027 season potentially in jeopardy due to the looming CBA expiration, the union must now find a successor capable of navigating high-stakes negotiations while under the cloud of a federal inquiry.
From First Baseman to Union Boss
Tony Clark, 53, made history in 2013 when he became the first former player to lead the MLBPA. Before his executive career, Clark enjoyed a 15-year Major League career as a switch-hitting first baseman. Drafted 2nd overall by the Detroit Tigers in 1990, he finished his playing days with a .262 batting average, 251 home runs, and 824 RBIs across stints with the Tigers, Yankees, Diamondbacks, and others.
During his tenure as executive director, Clark led the union through two CBA cycles, including the contentious 2021-22 lockout that delayed the start of the season. While he was credited with maintaining player unity during that period, his leadership had recently come under fire from some factions within the union regarding financial transparency and the direction of the MLBPA’s legal strategy.
What’s Next for MLB?
The MLBPA has not yet named an interim director. The vacancy creates an immediate power vacuum that could embolden MLB owners as they push for structural changes to the league’s economic system. As players report to camp in Florida and Arizona this week, the focus has shifted from the field to the future of their representation.
Further updates on the federal investigation and the union’s plan for succession are expected later today.