When former MLBer Dave Stewart left his family-run Sports Management Partners to become D-backs GM in '14, his wife Lonnie Murray continued to run the business, which "raised a host of questions and concerns," according to Nick Piccoro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Some of those questions are "still playing themselves out" at Spring Training, as D-backs C Chris Herrmann and P Enrique Burgos, both competing for a roster spot, are "current clients of Murray." It is a situation "without precedent in baseball, but those involved say the proper mechanisms are in place to ensure conflicts of interest do not arise." Murray said that the "'conditional' agent certification she was granted" by the MLBPA "requires her to recuse herself from a negotiation" involving the D-backs. Murray added that she must explain to her clients, in writing, the "potential conflicts involved in using her as their representation." Murray "represents six players" in the D-backs organization. D-backs Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa said that he "understands the sensitivity of the situation, but he came at it from a different angle." He said that the team "can't ignore Murray's clients -- or, if she weren't involved, former Stewart clients -- without risking harm to the organization." When Stewart left SMP in '14, plans "initially were put in place to transfer" the company to former MLBer Dave Henderson. However, Murray said that Henderson's health problems "limited his role with the company." Henderson passed away in December. Murray said that fellow agent John Boggs "helped convince her to remain in the business after Stewart's departure" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/29).
