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Player Frustration
Leaders among players in Major League Baseball expressed their dissatisfaction with executives from the Major League Baseball Players Association during a video conference call on Monday. This came after a week of players pushing for the removal of the union’s chief labor negotiator, as reported by sources to ESPN.
The nearly three-hour call included dozens of player representatives from both major and minor league units of the union. The majority of players, in an informal vote, expressed their desire to replace deputy executive director Bruce Meyer with Harry Marino. Marino, a lawyer who led the unionization efforts of minor league players, earned significant support among players, as sources said.
Appointment of Harry Marino
Over the previous 24 hours leading up to the call, 21 major league player representatives, after consultation with the rank and file, agreed to support Marino’s appointment. Marino, who had joined the MLBPA in 2022, swiftly garnered backing from both minor and major league players, holding support from 34 out of the 72 voting positions on the union’s executive board.
The potential appointment of Marino was met with some skepticism during the call, as some players raised concerns about his age and level of experience to negotiate at a high level with seasoned MLB labor representatives. Despite some opposition, Marino’s candidacy gained momentum with the backing of influential player agents and a perception that Meyer was closely aligned with agent Scott Boras, sources revealed.
Disillusionment Among Players
Disillusionment among players in recent days was fueled by developments such as the release of veteran infielder J.D. Davis by the Giants after an arbitration win for a $6.9 million salary. The realization that arbitration salaries are non-guaranteed added to the frustration, prompting agitation among players already perturbed by the salaries received by prominent free agents compared to previous expectations.
The discontent came amid an offseason marked by a significant decrease in overall spending by major league teams. This frugality contrasted sharply with the record-breaking spending spree seen in the previous winter, with only a handful of teams committing substantial financial resources to free agents this offseason.
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