In a season marked by frustration and discontent among players regarding the state of free agency, an increasing number of players are calling for changes in union leadership. According to reports from The Athletic and ESPN, players recently urged executive director Tony Clark to replace deputy director Bruce Meyer with Harry Marino during a call between union representatives and leadership.

Harry Marino, the former head of Advocates For Minor Leaguers who temporarily joined the MLBPA, worked closely with Meyer in negotiating the minor league collective bargaining agreement. Their relationship, however, is reportedly strained as a result of their collaboration on that effort. Meyer, 62, joined the union in August 2018 and has extensive experience working with unions in other major sports leagues.

The players' frustrations stem from several factors, including the sluggish market for top free agents, the decline of the middle class in free agency, a decrease in overall free-agent spending, and the controversial release of J.D. Davis after winning an arbitration hearing.

While Marino's potential ascension to the deputy director position received broad support from players, it was not a unanimous decision. Some players raised concerns about his youth (33 years old) and lack of experience in high-profile negotiations prior to his work with the minor league union. Notably, Marino was not involved in the call, and Clark rejected player requests for his presence.

The presence of high-profile free agents like Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, and J.D. Martinez remaining on the market through late stages of spring training has been a recurring topic of discussion throughout the offseason. Some rival agents have suggested that Meyer is influenced by the Boras Corporation more than other agencies, allegations that Meyer has vehemently denied.

The frustration among players extends beyond the top end of the market stall-out, as the middle class of free agency has significantly dwindled. Players like Gio Urshela, Amed Rosario, and Adam Duvall settled for relatively low-value contracts after struggling to find suitable offers.

Furthermore, the number of long-term free agent deals has also decreased compared to previous offseasons. Only six established MLB free agents have signed contracts of four or more years this offseason. Rival agents have raised concerns about Scott Boras and his agency's influence, while Meyer has consistently pushed back against these claims.

Another issue that has raised concerns among players is the handling of the J.D. Davis situation. Davis and his agent accused the San Francisco Giants of negotiating in bad faith by making a last-minute offer before arbitration and then releasing Davis midway through spring training. Players fear that such instances could set a precedent for teams making low offers, knowing players are unlikely to go to arbitration.

As talks about potential changes in union leadership continue, it remains uncertain whether significant changes will be made. The current frustration and unrest among players underscore the need for addressing the issues surrounding free agency and ensuring fair negotiations moving forward.