Tony Clark is not happy. Who could blame him? The executive director of the MLB Players Association is currently witnessing a stagnant free agent market, which has put the people he represents at an enormous disadvantage with the MLB.
Free agency started off fast when Jordan Zimmermann signed a $110 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. David Price followed with a $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. That could be regarded as one of the best starts to any free agency period of all-time since Price landed the biggest contract in history for a starting pitcher.
This offseason also featured one of the most talented and deepest FA classes of all-time: Price, Zimmermann Zack Greinke, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Chris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes, Johnny Cueto, Alex Gordon, Jeff Samardzija, Mike Leake, Wei-Yin Chen, Daniel Murphy, Scott Kazmir, Ian Kennedy, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey, Denard Span, Marco Estrada and many more. All of those players found homes for 2016.
But now, in February, a number of talented and accomplished players still remain unsigned as teams look to cut costs, preserve draft picks and give their younger players a chance to crack the MLB roster. Agents and executives have spoken publicly about the current state of affairs, deeming it ridiculous.
"I'm hearing a lot of, 'We're good with what we have,'" one agent told ESPN's Buster Olney. "What does that mean? You don't even want to bring in a guy to your camp who might surprise you and make you a little better? If you're not on the hook to pay the guy much of anything and he's not [assured of] playing time, what does it hurt to get a look? That's the part that makes me wonder how much these teams are actually interested in being more competitive. It's terrible."
Among those unsigned include Yovani Gallardo, Dexter Fowler, Ian Desmond, Pedro Alvarez, David Freese, Juan Uribe, Jimmy Rollins, Austin Jackson, Marlon Byrd, David Murphy, Alex Rios, Will Venable, Shane Victorino, Tim Lincecum, Kyle Lohse, Justin Masterson, Alfredo Simon, Matt Belisle, Neal Cotts, Franklin Morales, Matt Thornton and many more.
Some have fallen victim to the qualifying offer system. Some are unsigned because there was surplus of available players at their position this offseason. But for others, there's just not much of a reason for their unemployment.
"I don't think it's in anyone's best interest to be in a world where very talented players are at home for whatever reason they are there," Clark told The Associated Press. "It will likely be a part of the conversation in bargaining."
The new collective bargaining negotiations between the MLB and MLB Players Association are set to commence in the near future. The current CBA expires on Dec. 1, 2016, so there will be a number of pressing issues to take care of before the new agreement is final.
It's safe to say free agency will be one of those topics.
