The Major League Baseball Players Association has issued a press release to announce the hiring of former big leaguer Javier Vazquez, who will be a special assistant to executive director Tony Clark, specializing in the rights of international players.
The release indicates that Vazquez’s new role will include the support of international players in the Union as well as working with Major League Baseball International to help grow the game on a global scale. Vazquez will also represent the MLBPA in winter leagues, tournaments, showcases and other international events. Clark issued the following statement:
“Javy’s experience and accomplishments as an active player, as well as the commitment he made as an integral part of our Union leadership while in uniform, make him an ideal addition to our staff. His expertise and desire to impact our International players will be instrumental in accomplishing our goals in the short term and long term.”
Vazquez was involved with the Union while he was a player, serving as a player rep beginning in 2002. He worked that year and in 2006 on establishing the collective bargaining agreements, pushing hard for the rights of foreign-born players in that time. Said Vazquez of his new role: “I’m eager and committed to helping all players navigate their way through the various stages of their careers, and to helping spread the global popularity of the game and the players.”
“Vazquez will also represent the MLBPA in winter leagues, tournaments, showcases and other international events.”
He should have added “as long as it’s close to home since I don’t want to be too far away, just like in my playing career.”
The MLBPA has been super effective at a time when most unions are on the defensive. I wonder, though, if having a leadership composed entirely of former players is the right way to go for the future. Maybe it’s OK in times of labor peace, and as a baseball fan I’m happy for that. But it seems to me just from an outside perspective that they’d be better off with a non-player legal expert at the top.