MLBPA hires two-time All-Star as special assistant to Tony Clark

The Major League Baseball Players Association has hired Carlos Gómez, per Tenchy Rodriguez of Z101. The former big leaguer will be a special assistant to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark.

Gómez, now 38, retired in 2021 after a 13-year career in the big leagues. He played in 1,461 big league games between the Mets, Twins, Brewers, Astros, Rangers and Rays. He hit 145 home runs and stole 268 bases while providing excellent outfield defense, leading to a career tally of 25.9 wins above replacement from FanGraphs. Gomez earned two All-Star appearances and a Gold Glove Award.

It seems his post-playing days will see him get involved with the union, which has naturally been in a prominent role in recent years. After a few decades of relative labor peace, Major League Baseball locked out the players in the 2021-22 offseason. A new collective bargaining agreement was eventually agreed to, which saw significant changes, including increasing pay for younger players, big bumps in the luxury tax, measures to decrease service time manipulation and more.

Beyond that, the MLBPA also began representing minor league players and eventually worked out a new CBA between those players and the league. That agreement led to pay increases for minor league players as well as some medical and pension provisions and other details. Another wrinkle was reported Wednesday by Jeff Passan of ESPN, who relays that the union is now certifying agents who only represent minor leaguers. Previously, an agent needed to represent at least one 40-man roster player.