GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox veterans emphasized togetherness for players around the league in wake of the surprising news Tuesday morning that MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark is resigning.
Clark, who held the role since 2013, steps down as the players association is expected in the coming months to begin collective bargaining with the MLB for a new labor deal as the current contract expires Dec. 1.
The league could be headed toward a lockout to start the 2027 season, with league executives seemingly pushing to impose a salary cap, which players have historically opposed.
Andrew Benintendi, the team’s most veteran player with 10 seasons under his belt, said the talk of a potential lockout has only brought players closer together. The goal is always to prioritize the players’ needs, even if that means sacrificing some games next season, he said.
“Obviously, I think we want to be out on the field. There’s a lot of things we can’t control,” Benintendi, 31, said. “Going forward, we’re always going to be together. Talks will happen and we’re going to put players first and we want to be out there, we don’t want to miss games. But if that’s what needs to happen, we’re going to be together and we’ll go from there.”
Added Benintendi: “What’s important is that I think all the players are in unison as we always have been. We’ll be in discussions in the next day or two. We’ll leave it at this.”
Davis Martin, the Sox’s longest tenured player by service time, said player representatives planned to meet with the union Tuesday and speak about next steps.
He and other veterans on the team expressed pride in the brotherhood-like spirit of the MLBPA.
“You’re talking guys who have played together, guys who have played against each other for years all the way through the minor leagues, all the way through the major leagues,” Martin, 29, said. “You get to play with guys and those relationships never change. I can call Garrett Crochet right now and we can have a conversation with him.”
“Unity across the board is our strength, it’s always been our strength and baseball players in a nutshell are always cut from similar cloth regardless of country, origin, in general. That’s our perspective,” he added.
Following Clark’s announcement, the MLBPA canceled the start of its yearly spring training tour of all 30 clubs Tuesday, which was set to begin with the Cleveland Guardians and the Sox.
The resignation also comes amid a federal investigation into the MLBPA’s finances related to a youth baseball company.
High praise for Chase, Braden
White Sox manager Will Venable raved about second baseman Chase Meidroth and outfielder Braden Montgomery — both acquired in the Crochet trade — as two guys who “did an outstanding job and added a ton of jumps in a lot of different metrics” during the offseason.
Venable said Montgomery’s maturity stands out for a 22 year old.
“He has a very thoughtful plan. Everything he does is with a purpose,” Venable said. “Not surprising that after a healthy offseason he’s able to turn his body into even more of a weapon than it was before. He’s an extremely physical guy that has put on good weight and looks great out there.”
Meidroth, who played a bulk of last season as the Sox’ leadoff hitter, appears “more flexible and mobile” this spring, the second-year manager said.
“He looks great running, it looks like he’s faster… Credit to him,” Venable said.