SF Giants’ Webb, Beck discuss former MLBPA executive director Tony Clark’s shocking resignation ahead of labor battle

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Major League Baseball’s impending labor battle took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, suddenly resigned following an internal investigation that revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law.

Clark, 53, had been the executive director since 2013 and had also been under federal investigation by the Eastern District of New York for alleged financial improprieties.

MLBPA leadership met on Tuesday but did not elect an interim executive director. One of the leading candidates to replace Clark is deputy executive director Bruce Meyer, who’s currently the MLBPA’s lead negotiator.

“Just on a personal level, I think we’re all fairly devastated by things that have happened the last 48, 72, hours,” Meyer told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s fair to say that we were all personally upset, concerned about Tony. But I think this was something that players determined had to happen at this particular point in time.”

Clark’s resignation comes about 10 months before MLB’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires on Dec. 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. A lockout appears to be inevitable, the main question being how long it will last.

The central issue of this impending labor battle will be the owners’ push for a salary cap following years of lavish spending by the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. The NBA, NFL and NHL all currently use a salary cap.

Meyer said on Wednesday that the union has “a duty to the players and otherwise to listen to anything the league offers” when asked if the union would at least listen to offers entertaining a salary cap. That said, the players are expected to take a hardline stance against the salary cap.

“Our position and the historic position of this union for decades on the salary cap is well known,” Meyer said. “It’s the ultimate restriction. It is something that owners in all the sports have wanted more than anything, and baseball in particular. There’s a reason for that because it’s good for them and not good for players.”

Right-handers Logan Webb and Tristan Beck are the Giants’ player representative and alternative representative, respectively. Webb and Beck led a meeting on Wednesday morning to bring all their teammates up to speed and lay out the next steps.

“Knowing how strong our union is, at the end of the day, it’s all about the players,” Webb said. “The players are strong together, so we just have to stay strong together. At the end of the day, it is what it is. … Like I said, stay strong together and focus on the things ahead because it’s a big year ahead.”

Said Beck: “It’s unfortunate the way it happened, but the union’s always been bigger than one person and always been about the strength of the players. So, we’re feeling very confident going into bargaining. We’re happy with the next steps we’ve laid out.”

When asked if MLBPA leadership was able to make good headway during its Tuesday meeting, Webb elected to “keep most of what I’ve heard in there between us.” Beck and Webb also said they’re not concerned that Clark’s sudden departure would be an impediment.

“No reason for concern on our part,” Beck said. “Obviously, not exactly how you draw it up, but again, bigger than one person and the strength of the union is still intact. We like the team we have together going forward. As players, we’re definitely all pulling in the same direction.”

Webb, who will soon leave Giants camp and join Team USA in preparation for the World Baseball Classic, laughed when he said he was “put into this role.” The right-hander became an alternate rep in 2022. Last year, he became the main rep following the departures of LaMonte Wade Jr., the team’s main rep, and Tyler Rogers, a fellow alternate rep.

“A couple of the older guys threw my name (out),” Webb said of being named an alternate. “I think it was (Evan Longoria) and (Brandon) Belt. It was an honor. They were like, ‘You’re hopefully going to play for a long time. We think you should be an alternate and start getting involved in some of this stuff.”

Webb added: “Tristan is a perfect alternate. He’ll probably take over at some point. Stanford guys, they’re smarter than most of us. It’s good to have him with me on calls and listening to all these things. It’s been a lot of fun for me to learn more about all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes.”

The two-time All-Star was in St. Louis in 2024 after Austin Slater had been traded, prompting the Giants to elect a new player rep. Wade and Webb were the two alternates, and Webb, who was starting that day, recalled that he didn’t receive a single vote.

“It was all LaMonte,” Webb said with a smile. “I was pitching that day. I was getting a stretch and they had this vote. I was like, ‘That’s B.S. I would’ve at least voted for myself. I could’ve gotten one vote, right? But LaMonte was great at it, and I tried to learn as much as I could from him and Slater and all the guys before me.”