MESA, Ariz. — Amid a whirlwind 36 hours within the Major League Baseball Players Association, new interim executive director Bruce Meyer and MLBPA personnel kicked off their annual spring training visits that brought them to the Chicago Cubs complex Wednesday afternoon.
Hours later, the MLBPA player board — comprising 72 major- and minor-league players — unanimously appointed Meyer to his interim role and made Matt Nussbaum interim deputy executive director. Meyer replaces longtime union head Tony Clark, who abruptly resigned Tuesday.
“All of us on the staff are focused on what’s best for the union,” Meyer said. “At this point, we’ve all dedicated our careers to the union, to these players. … Whatever the players determine that’s in the best interest of the union, we are supportive internally. We are all rowing together and working as a team, and ultimately the players will make those decisions.”
The MLBPA met with Cubs players for more than an hour. Afterward, Meyer kept the topics of conversation private but acknowledged the issues baseball faces with the collective bargaining agreement expiring in December.
“A lockout is all but guaranteed at the end of the agreement,” Meyer said. “The league has pretty much said that their strategy and bargaining has always been to put as much pressure on the players as they can to try and create divisions and cracks among our membership. It’s never worked. I don’t think it ever will work.”
Owners are expected to seek the implementation of a salary cap in the next CBA.
“This is something they’ve always wanted,” Meyer said. “It’s not new. It appears they’re going to make a concerted push forward. Our union historically has been against it because we believe it’s quite simply not good for players. That position is not going to change.
“We see what they say, what they’ve said in the media. You’ve seen an uptick over the last year of owners coming out and talking about salary caps or the commissioner’s office. They don’t always use the words, but it’s very clear what they’re talking about.”
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Kevin Alcántara eager to seize opportunity — and put injury behind him
Offseason surgery for a sports hernia has Kevin Alcántara fully healthy as he battles for a spot on the opening roster as a backup outfielder.
Alcántara revealed Wednesday that he had sustained the hernia last February and opted to play through the discomfort. Now pain-free, he acknowledged it was a tough injury to play through, but he wanted to remain available.
He put up strong numbers at Triple-A Iowa last year despite not being totally himself, producing a .266 average, 349 on-base percentage and .818 OPS with 26 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBIs in 102 games.
After appearing in just 10 games for the Cubs in 2025, Alcántara understands he might not get a lot of chances again this season. He experienced the playoffs by being on the roster for both Cubs postseason series.
“I need to be focused for whatever opportunity I have to do my job,” Alcántara said. “I was only thinking win. If I’m going to have my opportunity to help the team, I’ll help the team. That’s the only thing I think in this moment.
“I want to take advice from the old guys. What I need to do for me to have the opportunity over there, I take it.”
Starting pitchers announced for first two Cactus League games
The Cubs’ two starting pitchers playing in the World Baseball Classic will kick off the team’s Cactus League schedule.
Right-hander Jameson Taillon is scheduled to start Friday’s exhibition opener against the White Sox at Sloan Park, while left-hander Matthew Boyd goes Saturday versus the Texas Rangers in another home game. Taillon (Canada) and Boyd (U.S.) are among eight players on the Cubs 40-man roster who will depart next week for the WBC.
Manager Craig Counsell wasn’t sure yet how many starting position players might be in the lineup this weekend, though Seiya Suzuki is expected to play center field in the Cactus League before leaving for Tokyo on Monday to help prepare him to play that position for Team Japan.
“You’re more likely to see them than other people, other more veteran players that aren’t in the WBC, but individualizing that a little bit at the beginning,” Counsell said Wednesday of the lineups. “Some guys won’t start for a couple days because I don’t think they need to, but the WBC guys all definitely have more urgency to get started.”