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)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
V druhé bundeslize šlo o život. Stoper Schalke vytáhl soupeři zapadlý jazyk
V 69. minutě utkání ve 2. bundeslize brankář Schalke při pokusu o boxování zasáhl Grodowského levou rukou do hlavy. Útočník okamžitě upadl s rozpaženými pažemi a pohled na třesoucího se hráče vypadal extrémně vážně. Katič rychle pochopil vážnost situace a k postiženému dorazil jako první. Nerozpakoval se a začal okamžitě jednat. Grodowskému především vytáhl zapadlý jazyk, čímž zabránil udušení nebo jiným vážnějším následkům.„Existují mnohem důležitější věci než fotbal. Musel jsem takto reagovat,“ podotkl statečný hrdina.Je jasné, že spíše než o výhře týmu z Gelsenkirchenu 2:1 se po utkání debatovalo o hororovém momentu.„Vypadalo to opravdu divoce. Nikola v hektické atmosféře zareagoval výtečně,“ ohodnotil svého svěřence trenér Schalke Miron Muslič. „Všichni v klubu doufáme, že ten kluk bude v pořádku,“ dodal trenér s odkazem na Grodowského.Přitom sedmadvacetiletý hráč chtěl dokonce pokračovat ve hře, ale byl preventivně vystřídán.„Všichni jsme viděli, že je mimo,“ řekl trenér Bielefeldu Mitch Kniat. „Rozhodli jsme se podstoupit nulové riziko. Lékaři okamžitě řekli, že […]
Arsenal in discussions over extending Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal
Arsenal are in discussions over extending their sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda.The Premier League club have been criticised for their association with the tourist board of the east African country and the sponsorship has been the subject of supporter protests.The Visit Rwanda shirt sleeve sponsorship for the men’s and women’s teams began in 2018, initially on a three-year deal, which was extended in 2021.AdvertisementAccording to the club’s accounts for 2023-24, the deal brought in £10million ($13.4m) as part of an overall commercial income of £218.3m.Rwanda is led by president Paul Kagame of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party, who is an Arsenal fan. The UK government suspended aid to Rwanda in February over its support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.The Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report in 2023 stated that RPF “continued to wage […]
Vinicius Junior, do Real Madrid, posta vídeo fazendo dancinha ao lado de Virgínia
O atacante Vini Jr., do Real Madrid, fez sua primeira publicação ao lado de Virginia na manhã desta segunda-feira. Em sua conta oficial do TikTok, o jogador brasileiro publicou um vídeo fazendo uma dancinha ao lado da influenciadora e aumentou os rumores de um relacionamento entre eles.
Canadiens season-opening notebook: Final cuts, lines shaping up, Newhook’s importance
Martin St. Louis spelled it out pretty clearly after the Canadiens closed out their preseason schedule Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.When asked about the sleepless night to come for Florian Xhekaj, Owen Beck and Adam Engström, St. Louis basically spilled the beans that disappointment was normal for them, despite the fact it would be another 16 hours before the Canadiens would announce all those players had been cut and sent to the Laval Rocket.Advertisement“I can relate. It’s not all negative,” he said. “The feeling you’re going to get, you’re allowed to have that feeling. You can’t control that, it’s normal, and you should feel that moment of disappointment. It doesn’t mean you failed. I think a lot of these guys are proving they’re going to play in the NHL. It’s just keep working on your […]
Aces, Victor Wembanyama play bully ball. Plus, previewing the Spurs and Sixers
The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.On this date in 1993, Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first of three times. This was following three straight championships. He went on to play minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox before eventually coming back for three more championships. Also on this date, my sister was born. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t read this, but I urge her to subscribe! If she doesn’t, I will reveal her age one year from today!What A WeekendAces get historic, and Wemby plays the bullyAfter a disastrous, 10-point second quarter, the Phoenix Mercury were only down nine points heading into the second half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces. Steal one in Sin City, and the […]
Uvidíme, co pan Šádek s novým majitelem vymyslí. Vydra o Plzni a návratu do reprezentace
Návrat do reprezentace si ale musel tvrdě vydřít. Stál ho spousty fyzických i psychických sil. Prošel si operacemi kolene, po příchodu do Plzně se trápil. Nemohl se do toho dostat, byl víc na lavičce než na hřišti. A když už ho tam trenér vypustil, zahazoval i stoprocentní šance. Uplynulá sezona ale hodila všechno zpátky do pozitivna. Vydra začal střílet góly, dostal se do herní pohody. Stal se klíčovou oporou Viktorie.„Ty čtyři roky byly zčásti nepříjemné. Měl jsem zraněné koleno, začátek v Plzni nebyl dobrý. Teď musím zaťukat - koleno drží, forma stoupá. Když člověk cítí, že se mu daří, začnou mu tam padat i góly. Jak se říká, spadlo by mi tam teď snad i ho*no,“ vtipkoval Vydra.Foto: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.czMatěj Vydra z Viktorie Plzeň během utkání s Jabloncem. Nebýt zranění, objevil by se už v červnové nominaci na zápasy s Černou Horou a v Chorvatsku. „V červnu mi oteklo koleno, […]
Related
V druhé bundeslize šlo o život. Stoper Schalke vytáhl soupeři zapadlý jazyk
V 69. minutě utkání ve 2. bundeslize brankář Schalke při pokusu o boxování zasáhl Grodowského levou rukou do hlavy. Útočník okamžitě upadl s rozpaženými pažemi a pohled na třesoucího se hráče vypadal extrémně vážně. Katič rychle pochopil vážnost situace a k postiženému dorazil jako první. Nerozpakoval se a začal okamžitě jednat. Grodowskému především vytáhl zapadlý jazyk, čímž zabránil udušení nebo jiným vážnějším následkům.„Existují mnohem důležitější věci než fotbal. Musel jsem takto reagovat,“ podotkl statečný hrdina.Je jasné, že spíše než o výhře týmu z Gelsenkirchenu 2:1 se po utkání debatovalo o hororovém momentu.„Vypadalo to opravdu divoce. Nikola v hektické atmosféře zareagoval výtečně,“ ohodnotil svého svěřence trenér Schalke Miron Muslič. „Všichni v klubu doufáme, že ten kluk bude v pořádku,“ dodal trenér s odkazem na Grodowského.Přitom sedmadvacetiletý hráč chtěl dokonce pokračovat ve hře, ale byl preventivně vystřídán.„Všichni jsme viděli, že je mimo,“ řekl trenér Bielefeldu Mitch Kniat. „Rozhodli jsme se podstoupit nulové riziko. Lékaři okamžitě řekli, že […]
Arsenal in discussions over extending Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal
Arsenal are in discussions over extending their sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda.The Premier League club have been criticised for their association with the tourist board of the east African country and the sponsorship has been the subject of supporter protests.The Visit Rwanda shirt sleeve sponsorship for the men’s and women’s teams began in 2018, initially on a three-year deal, which was extended in 2021.AdvertisementAccording to the club’s accounts for 2023-24, the deal brought in £10million ($13.4m) as part of an overall commercial income of £218.3m.Rwanda is led by president Paul Kagame of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party, who is an Arsenal fan. The UK government suspended aid to Rwanda in February over its support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.The Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report in 2023 stated that RPF “continued to wage […]
Vinicius Junior, do Real Madrid, posta vídeo fazendo dancinha ao lado de Virgínia
O atacante Vini Jr., do Real Madrid, fez sua primeira publicação ao lado de Virginia na manhã desta segunda-feira. Em sua conta oficial do TikTok, o jogador brasileiro publicou um vídeo fazendo uma dancinha ao lado da influenciadora e aumentou os rumores de um relacionamento entre eles.
Canadiens season-opening notebook: Final cuts, lines shaping up, Newhook’s importance
Martin St. Louis spelled it out pretty clearly after the Canadiens closed out their preseason schedule Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.When asked about the sleepless night to come for Florian Xhekaj, Owen Beck and Adam Engström, St. Louis basically spilled the beans that disappointment was normal for them, despite the fact it would be another 16 hours before the Canadiens would announce all those players had been cut and sent to the Laval Rocket.Advertisement“I can relate. It’s not all negative,” he said. “The feeling you’re going to get, you’re allowed to have that feeling. You can’t control that, it’s normal, and you should feel that moment of disappointment. It doesn’t mean you failed. I think a lot of these guys are proving they’re going to play in the NHL. It’s just keep working on your […]
Aces, Victor Wembanyama play bully ball. Plus, previewing the Spurs and Sixers
The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.On this date in 1993, Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first of three times. This was following three straight championships. He went on to play minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox before eventually coming back for three more championships. Also on this date, my sister was born. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t read this, but I urge her to subscribe! If she doesn’t, I will reveal her age one year from today!What A WeekendAces get historic, and Wemby plays the bullyAfter a disastrous, 10-point second quarter, the Phoenix Mercury were only down nine points heading into the second half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces. Steal one in Sin City, and the […]
Uvidíme, co pan Šádek s novým majitelem vymyslí. Vydra o Plzni a návratu do reprezentace
Návrat do reprezentace si ale musel tvrdě vydřít. Stál ho spousty fyzických i psychických sil. Prošel si operacemi kolene, po příchodu do Plzně se trápil. Nemohl se do toho dostat, byl víc na lavičce než na hřišti. A když už ho tam trenér vypustil, zahazoval i stoprocentní šance. Uplynulá sezona ale hodila všechno zpátky do pozitivna. Vydra začal střílet góly, dostal se do herní pohody. Stal se klíčovou oporou Viktorie.„Ty čtyři roky byly zčásti nepříjemné. Měl jsem zraněné koleno, začátek v Plzni nebyl dobrý. Teď musím zaťukat - koleno drží, forma stoupá. Když člověk cítí, že se mu daří, začnou mu tam padat i góly. Jak se říká, spadlo by mi tam teď snad i ho*no,“ vtipkoval Vydra.Foto: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.czMatěj Vydra z Viktorie Plzeň během utkání s Jabloncem. Nebýt zranění, objevil by se už v červnové nominaci na zápasy s Černou Horou a v Chorvatsku. „V červnu mi oteklo koleno, […]
Be the first to leave a comment