Tom Haudricourt

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PHOENIX – The Major League Baseball Players Association holds meetings every spring with players from all 30 teams but this spring they have been, shall we say, a bit more intense.

After two winters of a depressed free-agent market and many players still looking for work as opening day approaches, unrest among union members has grown. After his staff met with the Brewers on Wednesday morning, union director Tony Clark addressed those concerns.

“(Concern) continues to be high,” Clark said. “It was high before Manny (Machado) and Bryce (Harper) signed, and while we are glad they did, a number of others are still at home and out of jobs, that can help clubs win.

“It speaks to the concern that we’ve voiced for the last year-plus. There are players available in the market that can help teams be successful in the field that aren’t being given an opportunity to do so.”

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One of the players who didn’t fare well on the last two free-agent markets is Brewers infielder Mike Moustakas. After hitting a franchise-record 38 home runs for Kansas City in 2017, he received no offers on the market he liked and returned to the Royals on a $5.5 million contract.

After hitting 28 homers with 95 RBI while splitting last season between Kansas City and Milwaukee, Moustakas again found no takers in free agency before finally returning to the Brewers on a $10 million deal after spring training had begun.

“’Moose’ is what’s right about our game, both on and off the field,” Clark said. “So, when you talk about ambassadors for the game, you can appreciate and respect the performance they put forth on the field, day in and day out, but the content of Moose’s character speaks louder than who he is even as a baseball player.

“The idea that for a second offseason he found himself with very few suitors that had an interest in accessing that talent, whether it be for a single year or more than that, is not good for the game. As a fan, it’s not good for the game. And as a business, I don’t believe it’s good for the game.”

As for the tone of the player meetings this spring, Clark said, “The engagement and solidarity of the group is something we haven’t seen in a long time. Young guys are asking questions. Whether you’re in the middle or whether you’re a senior player, everybody is paying attention to what’s going on and providing support, not just among themselves in the locker room, but even among other teams, providing support for one another.”

The current collective bargaining agreement doesn’t expire until after the 2021 season, so it remains to be seen if any financial adjustments are made beforehand. In the meantime, management and the union continue to discuss many changes to the game, including roster size, limiting roster expansion in September, adding the DH to the NL and all-star voting.

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“On-field items can be discussed, and often are discussed, each off-season,” Clark said. “It doesn’t mean agreement is found; it just means they’re discussed. Core economic issues are something that are rarely discussed during the course of a collective bargaining agreement.

“The possibility of that happening – I can’t speak for the other side – speaks to the idea that what we are seeing we don’t believe is sustainable and in the best interests of the industry. So, it makes sense to have a conversation sooner rather than later about it.”

Clark did say he expects the DH to come to the National League, whether it's when the current CBA expires or beforehand.

"I would say yes, for a whole host of reasons," he said.