Union’s leaders talk issues with players

NORTH PORT, FLA. — On Sunday morning, Braves players gathered in the clubhouse at CoolToday Park for a meeting with Tony Clark and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Clark, the MLBPA’s executive director, and Bruce Meyer, the union’s deputy executive director, were part of the crew who made the trip to North Port on their tour of every camp in the sport this spring. The meetings are designed to help the MLBPA keep an open line of communication with players it represents. There’s dialogue throughout the entire season, but for one morning in the spring, the union can gather with a team and hear different topics, concerns and viewpoints.

The larger topics discussed are often ones fans are tuned into.

“I don’t know that there’s much that the casual fan hasn’t thought of in regards to the things that resonate the most with players,” Clark told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Sunday’s meeting with the Braves. “A lot of those things have moved to the forefront throughout spring training, and some of them hopefully won’t remain in the forefront because they’ll be remedied in the not-too-distant future, i.e. uniforms.”

Uniforms have been a hot topic for Braves fans. Gone is the piping on the beltloops of the team’s pants. The sleeve piping also shifted down. The Braves’ spring training hats are bright red.

The MLBPA is trying to tackle issues with the uniforms throughout baseball.

“It’s been an ongoing topic of conversation,” Clark said. “We’re engaged with the folks that are involved with the hope of making it less of an issue moving forward.”

MLB and Nike introduced new jerseys at the beginning of spring training. The uniforms were designed with an emphasis on “improve(d) mobility, moisture management and fit,” according to Nike’s press release. Nike also cited the importance of the uniforms being “breathable” and “lightweight.” Players and fans have complained — about the color shades, the names and the numbers.

“The next conversation, we would like to think, would remove a lot of the things that have been in the forefront, whether it is the lettering or the numbering, or even the fit of the uniform,” said Clark.

MLBPA view on the Braves’ extensions

In recent years, some detractors have said the Braves took advantage of players by signing them to below-market contracts. Or that the players signing those extensions don’t have smart and well-intentioned representation.

How does the MLBPA view the longterm extensions the Braves have given out?

“Any time players and their individual representatives are able to take the rights that they have, the rights that they’ve earned and the rights that they’ve fought for and use them in a way that they believe is advantageous to them, that’s why (those rights are) there,” Clark said. “And in this instance, each of the players made those determinations ... because they felt they were best for them at that time.”

In all of these situations, the Braves assumed plenty of risk. They are signing players to long-term contracts without knowing what the future holds. As they built a core, they didn’t leave themselves a lot of flexibility if things went awry.

Michael Harris II had only been in the majors for a couple months, Spencer Strider for a year. What if Austin Riley didn’t continue playing like one of the best hitters in the sport? Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL two seasons before winning National League MVP.

The players, on the other hand, wanted to stay. It’s their choice, as Clark said. Harris grew up a Braves fan. Strider didn’t want to go anywhere else because he wanted to win. Riley could’ve waited and continued building his value, but he was sold on the Braves. Acuña and Ozzie Albies love playing for the organization.

These players are still making life-changing money while also prioritizing their happiness. They want to be in Atlanta. They care about winning.

If they aren’t complaining, should anyone?