MLBPA Under Multiple Investigations
The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is under investigation as a result of multiple cases. Back in May, it was reported that federal investigators were looking into OneTeam Partners, an organization founded by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the MLBPA, and RedBird Capital.
OneTeam Partners seeks to strike deals relating to a player’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). However, it is important to note that professional athletes do not make NIL deals like college players do. Federal investigators are looking into how the company’s finances were managed and distributed.
On October 30, 2025, it came to light that a Florida-based company, Players Way, was spending millions despite only getting sparse attendance. The union claimed it spent $3.9 million, but people who spoke with ESPN who are knowledgeable about union finances say it was actually about $10 million.
The complaint to the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn also said that Tony Clark, the MLBPA’s executive director, has been accused of self-dealing, misuse of resources, and abuse of power. It is important to note that Clark has not been charged with a crime. The NFLPA is not involved in this case.
These scandals are happening in the midst of major labor negotiations with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) collective bargaining agreement expiring after the 2026 season. A lockout is widely expected, especially with the issue of a salary cap being a non-starter for the MLBPA.
This is also in the midst of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, being investigated by MLB in regards to suspicious wagering, specifically on certain pitches.
The MLBPA and MLB’s relationship has been tenuous at best, especially since 2020. The two sides had tense negotiations about returning to play in 2020, especially in terms of season length and the payout of salaries for 2020, which ended in the players voting no to 60 games, but the owners unanimously gave Commissioner Rob Manfred the ability to impose a schedule, which he did.
The players decided to comply. Then, in 2021 and going into 2022, a three-month lockout took place from Dec. 2, 2021, to Mar. 10, 2022, that stopped all transactions outside of players signing contracts with Minor League teams. It’s widely expected that the lockout will be worse due to the cap issue and even cause lost regular season games or maybe even a lost season. These recent scandals likely do not help in these relations and may prove to be a contentious point next winter.
