Tony Clark Resigns as MLB Players' Union Head Amid Potential Cap Fight

Tony Clark has stepped down from his role as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, the union confirmed Tuesday night, creating a leadership vacuum as the sport braces for what could be a contentious battle over a possible salary cap in upcoming labor negotiations.

Clark, who had served as the MLBPA’s executive director since late 2013, submitted his resignation with the collective-bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2026 season. His departure comes at a pivotal moment: owners have increasingly signaled a willingness to press for a hard payroll ceiling, a stance the union has historically rejected outright.

The players’ association offered no immediate explanation for Clark’s exit, nor did it name an interim successor. The resignation leaves the MLBPA searching for new leadership less than two years before negotiations on the next CBA are expected to intensify, raising questions about strategy and unity at a time when core economic issues—including minimum salaries, service-time manipulation, and competitive-balance tax thresholds—remain unresolved.

MLB declined to comment on Clark’s resignation, referring all inquiries to the union.

Clark, a former first baseman who became the first former player to head the MLBPA, guided the union through the turbulent 2020 pandemic season, a bruising lockout in the spring of 2022, and ongoing grievances over the league’s economic structure. His tenure ends with players still seeking greater compensation for younger talent and increased spending from several low-payroll clubs.

With the next labor showdown on the horizon, the union now faces the dual challenge of installing new leadership while preparing for what many within the sport anticipate will be the most significant debate over a salary cap since the 1994-95 strike that canceled a World Series.