FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: February 21, 2026

Essentially the most consequential transaction (for those who can name it that) in baseball this week was the resignation of Tony Clark as the chief director of the Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation. Clark, who had been the pinnacle of the union since 2013, stepped down after an inner investigation revealed that he’d had an “inappropriate relationship” together with his sister-in-law, who had been employed to work for the union in 2023. The MLBPA elevated deputy government director and lead negotiator Bruce Meyer into the highest spot on an interim foundation. The timing of the transfer is much from supreme, coming lower than 10 months earlier than the present collective bargaining settlement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, at which level the homeowners are anticipated to promptly lock out the gamers for the second time this decade. Nonetheless, as Michael Baumann wrote on Tuesday, it’s a good worse time for the union to have management that its membership doesn’t belief. Past the “inappropriate relationship,” Clark is among the topics of a broader ongoing federal probe into each the MLBPA and the NFLPA over monetary dealings associated to the group licensing agency OneTeam Companions, and was the topic of a November 2024 whistleblower criticism alleging him of misusing union sources, self-dealing, and abuse of energy. His departure permits the gamers to higher coalesce round their shared priorities.

In lighter information, 12 groups performed their first spring coaching video games on Friday, offering us with an ideal alternative to look at a few of the gamers we lined throughout Prospect Week. When you tuned in to the Mariners-Padres sport, for instance, you’d’ve seen 4 of our High 100 Prospects — together with shortstop Colt Emerson (no. 11), heart fielder Jonny Farmelo (no. 51), proper fielder Lazaro Montes (no. 66), and second baseman Michael Arroyo (no. 78) — in motion, all enjoying for Seattle. The 21-year-old Arroyo (a 50-FV prospect) smoked a two-run homer to proper heart subject on an 0-2 changeup that caught means an excessive amount of of the plate. He doubled his subsequent time up and completed the day 2-for-2. There are 16 video games slated for this afternoon.

We now have extra labor discuss to return on this mailbag, however that’s the final we’ll say in regards to the begin of spring coaching video games. As an alternative, we’ll be answering your questions on quantifying the pitcher-catcher relationship, the looming lockout, how groups carry out after vital roster turnover, and extra. Earlier than we do, although, I’d wish to remind you that this mailbag is unique to FanGraphs Members. When you aren’t but a Member and wish to hold studying, you possibly can join a Membership right here. It’s the easiest way to each expertise the location and help our employees, and it comes with a bunch of different nice advantages. Additionally, for those who’d wish to ask a query for an upcoming mailbag, ship me an e mail at mailbag@fangraphs.com.