MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark discussed "getting through last season and what lies ahead for the game," according to a Q&A with Peter Abraham of the BOSTON GLOBE. Below are excerpts from the Q&A with Clark, some of which have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How soon will you need to determine the rules for 2021?
Clark: Informally, the dialogue has begun. As we continue to get feedback from players on a number of related issues, the hope that we can work through them efficiently is indeed the goal. I’m encouraged by the initial dialogue. ... The concerns are around reducing incentives for winning division titles; or winning the most games possible. We already had concerns about the desire by some (teams) not to win as many games as possible, and calling into question the integrity of the regular season is a difficult proposition to say the least. ... Our guys are preparing as such.
Q: Do you expect free agency to be challenging given the claims by teams of their lost revenues?
Clark: We believe that there are ownership groups that do want to compete and do want to grow their fan bases, that do want to ensure their long-term well-being and will be interested in players that can help them win ballgames. We’ll see. ... It should have never been public. There is an opportunity, even amid disagreements, to have those disagreements discussed and worked through in a manner that does not have a ticker at the bottom of the TV screen every time there’s a miss (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/15).
