Ex-union official who orchestrated mutiny at MLBPA breaks silence on players association turmoil

Two years ago, Harry Marino helped orchestrate a player mutiny challenging the MLBPA's leadership. In his first interview about the events, Marino says they should be remembered not as "coup," but as the start of "an overdue reckoning."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

Former MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth's daughter tells court trustee misused millions

Former MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth's daughter has gone to court to fight for control of her family's trust amidst her parents' cognitive decline. She alleges that the trustee — who is also the chairman of Tiger Woods' foundation — has misused millions

www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Ahead of likely lockout, MLBPA amasses war chest of more than $500 million The union’s financial disclosure was the first it has filed since the ouster of Tony Clark as executive director in February.

MLB players and owners alike have stockpiled cash ahead of the expected lockout later this year www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Has MLB overtaken the NBA as America’s No. 2 league? (Gift Article) The NFL is king. But baseball's gains of late have changed the terms of its rivalry with the NBA over who is No. 2.

Has MLB overtaken the NBA as America’s No. 2 league?

From @stephenjnesbitt.bsky.social @evandrellich.bsky.social and me

Free link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

MLB base coaches say new rule to curb pitch tipping has put them in harm’s way MLB is standing by its enforcement though one coach told The Athletic, "we’ve all been talking about how you’re constantly in danger."

News: As Opening Day arrives, MLB first- and third-base coaches fear for their safety from line drives because of MLB's rule change to keep them in their designated boxes.

Aaron Boone: “They’re in harm’s way, bottom line.”

With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social and more

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Baseball is riding an international boom, but will it ever stick in the Olympics? We'll see Olympic baseball in L.A. But with MLB's schedule and future Olympic Games taking place elsewhere, will that continue beyond 2028?

Coming off a stellar World Baseball Classic, baseball has never been more popular across the globe.

Pierre Ducrey, sports director for the International Olympic Committee, on anticipation for 2028, and whether baseball could become permanent again:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

Reveling in WBC success, Miami pushes to be tourney's permanent home

Miami has been so loud as the host of the World Baseball Classic, the games so well attended that some tournament officials think it should be the de facto host of the WBC going forward: “I think Miami is always going to be in the rotation in some way" www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

They came to win the WBC. Olympic qualification was a surprising part of the deal For teams from the Americas, the World Baseball Classic is a double-jeopardy tournament. Lose too soon and you're out of the Olympics, too.

Half the remaining teams in the World Baseball Classic are playing for a spot in the 2028 Olympics.

How MLB, the MLBPA and the WBSC determined the Olympic qualifying set-up, and why the union pushed for two teams to come out of the WBC rather than one:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

The A's used to let their star players walk. A move to Vegas is changing things

The A’s used to let their star players walk. A move to Vegas is changing things www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

For Venezuela, the Dominican and others, WBC is their only shot at Olympic qualification The WBC will be the only chance for the Americas teams to qualify for the six-team Olympic field at Dodger Stadium in 2028.

The most important (and convoluted) aspect of the World Baseball Classic that nobody is talking about: www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

With Tony Clark gone, how will change at baseball's union impact MLB ahead of looming lockout?

What Tony Clark’s exit means for the MLBPA and an expected lockout www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

What would MLB look like with a salary cap? Explaining the wide-ranging, game-changing effects From free agency to guaranteed contracts to franchise values, a salary cap would completely remake the MLB landscape.

What would MLB look like with a salary cap? Everything you need to know about the wide-ranging, game-changing effects, from free agency to, yes, competitive balance

MLB wants an NHL-style hard cap. $240m ceiling, $160m floor could be target

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

An MLB labor war is coming. Will President Trump try to step in? If President Trump wanted to exert influence over MLB, what avenues could he take?

“There shouldn’t be any sort of source of discord between these two institutions,” Naftali said of baseball and the White House. “They’re both national institutions. One has nuclear weapons, the other one does not.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

MLB teams flee cash-strapped FanDuel Sports Network for MLB broadcast group

What's the deal with baseball games on TV? www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Why MLB stars are being told they can’t play in the World Baseball Classic

Explaining the World Baseball Classic insurance denials fiasco, with @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

MLB owners enraged by Kyle Tucker-Dodgers deal, will push for salary cap ‘no matter what’ It's believed that only the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets might remain in opposition to a salary cap proposal, a source said.

“A 100 percent certainty” that the owners will push for a salary cap in wake of Kyle Tucker deal with the Dodgers, ownership source says.

“These guys are going to go for a cap no matter what it takes."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

MLB’s Dodger Economics

New pod: @theathletic.com's @evandrellich.bsky.social on what MLB's offseason tells us about the sport's coming labor battle.

open.spotify.com/episode/02yA...

FanDuel Sports Network makes new offers to MLB teams, hinging on the company being sold If it isn't sold, Main Street has told partner teams it plans to wind down FanDuel Sports Network operations after the NBA and NHL seasons.

FanDuel Sports Network is offering three-year deals to MLB teams to return. The offers depend, however, on FanDuel SN finding a buyer. The latest on the fate of a major sports broadcasting company:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...

MLB trying to ‘force’ players into salary cap, union says, as Manfred walks a tricky line MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's recent comments on a salary cap system prompted a strong response from baseball's union.

“The league and owners say they want to avoid missing games but at the same time they appear to be dead-set on trying to force players into a system that, the last time they proposed it, led to the most missed games ever and a cancelled World Series.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

MLB trying to ‘force’ players into salary cap, union says, as Manfred walks a tricky line

“I’ve never been in a negotiation where, before the first piece of paper went across the table, I, or anyone I represented, was out there saying, ‘This, we absolutely will not talk about.’ I just think it’s a hard way to begin a negotiation.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

Manfred stumps for MLB free-agent signing deadline, a ‘miscalculation’ to union Fans, media and industry officials often raise the deadline discussion when free agency goes slowly, as it has this winter.

“But if their true interest is to blow up the very system on which our streak of uninterrupted seasons has been built — with the game reaching record heights and poised to go even higher, no less — that would be a self-defeating miscalculation of massive proportions”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Manfred stumps for MLB free-agent signing deadline, a ‘miscalculation’ to union Fans, media and industry officials often raise the deadline discussion when free agency goes slowly, as it has this winter.

Rob Manfred wants a free agency signing deadline in baseball: "a great marketing opportunity for the game"

Brent Rooker: "pretty close to the most anti-player idea you could possibly have"

Tony Clark and agents Joel Wolfe, Scott Boras weigh in:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Nine MLB teams’ TV money in jeopardy as FanDuel networks continue to struggle The troubled broadcaster is trying to renegotiate its payments to nine MLB teams, and recently missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Last winter Rob Manfred had luxury-tax money — up to $15m per team — to give clubs that took haircuts on their TV deals: a “media disruption distribution.” But it was a 1-year deal that MLB did not bring back this winter.

The problems, though? They’re back.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Hello, I’d like to share some opinions to commemorate the new year! I may do this annually! Cheers!

The Athletics are rising on the field, but will they spend now as they eye 2028?

John Fisher and David Forst on the State of the A’s after Year One in Sacramento. Fisher and Forst are in extension talks, the owner said www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Before betting probe, MLB caught Emmanuel Clase breaking cell phone rules built for sign-stealing era MLB has worked to police player cell phone use, but the league loosened its cell phone rules in 2025 in response to concerns from players.

Before betting probe, MLB caught Emmanuel Clase breaking cell phone rules built for sign-stealing era. With @zackmeisel.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

MLB winter meetings still hold value in texting era, but may be canceled for 2026 The winter meetings are MLB's annual showcase event. But labor issues may mean it does not return next winter.

The winter meetings could well wind up canceled next year. But in an era when it’s easy to communicate digitally, MLB and participants still see value in the annual convention www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Players have long had agents. A former MLB GM now reps coaches and execs, an underserved group

A former MLB general manager is now an agent — to coaches and execs, who have fewer options www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

MLB formed a Fan Council. It wasn’t long before the league made its pitch on labor issues “One of the biggest things that came into my mind was like, ‘Why us?’” said one of the fan council members after MLB's presentation.

MLB formed a fan council. It wasn’t long before the league made its pitch on labor issues

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Union fires back at Rob Manfred's 'extremely revealing' defense of rogue agent

"Mr. Manfred’s comments suggesting there’s ‘nothing to see here’ both mischaracterize the facts & are extremely revealing of the league’s general approach to labor negotiations. There is nothing 'business as usual’ about ... a ‘mole’ for the commissioner’s office"

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...