When federal agents start circling the players’ unions, the stakes hit a new level. From the Biogenesis saga that had MLB players answering to the feds about performance-enhancing drugs to repeated financial probes brushing against major names, we’ve seen how messy things can get.

And this time, the spotlight isn’t on a single star or executive. It’s about a group, OneTeam Partners, co-owned by the players’ associations.

The MLB Players Association and the NFL Players Association are two of the most powerful unions. And they are now under federal scrutiny. FBI agents have reportedly reached out directly to MLB players, enquiring about their knowledge of financial activities tied to the multibillion-dollar OneTeam Partners. What was supposed to be a revenue-generating machine built to benefit athletes might now be the center of a widening investigation.

“The explicit goal throughout the process was to financially enrich the individuals who serve on the OTP Board as labor organization representatives,” the Athletic quoted an NFLPA official.

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Reportedly, last year, someone at the NFL Players Association had voiced concerns multiple times about a deal being pushed forward. The concerns include those of labor leaders on OneTeam’s board. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and MLB Players Association chief Tony Clark might be backing a move. Something that could personally benefit them financially. Possibly at the cost of the very union members they’re supposed to represent.

Notably, OneTeam Partners passed a resolution stating that any future payouts from the Senior Employee Incentive Plan (SEIP) would go to the unions represented by the board members. But here’s the kicker. The resolution also openly admitted that those unions could then choose to pass that money along to their board members. So, it would be at the mercy of the unions to allocate the funds to the board members.

Investigations are ongoing to determine whether any funds were siphoned off by the name of any board members.

“To be unequivocally clear: No OneTeam board member, nor any union employee, was directly or indirectly granted equity in OneTeam, holds equity in OneTeam, or is a participant in its SEIP, and any claim to the contrary is simply misinformed and false.” OneTeam Partners outright rejected their involvement in any financial irregularities.

OneTeam partners’ involvement with MLB and NFL unions is what is prompting the Federal agency to investigate irregularities. Right now, we are expecting more insights would come to light with the federal agency calling out the players for investigations.

Conflict of interest within the MLB Players Association

MLBPA Chief Tony Clark was accused by the anonymous complainant of “improperly giving himself and other executives equity in OneTeam.”

As per The Athletic, Clark and the MLB union have involved their own legal representation. Well, that makes sense considering the federal agencies will deal with him, too. Moreover, if the allegations in the NLRB complaint hold any weight, there could be a conflict of interest between Clark and the union itself.

Notably, Clark has been at the helm of the Players Association since 2013. He steered it through two major collective bargaining agreements. As of now, he’s also expected to lead negotiations again in 2026. However, let’s wait and watch whether this investigation creates any differences in his run.

According to the Wall Street Journal, investigators are focusing on whether Tony Clark or other union leaders may have misused funds tied to OneTeam. Here, the key issue isn’t just about the MLB union or OneTeam individually. It’s about the individuals, like Clark, who hold roles in both organizations, and whether that overlap led to any financial misconduct.

So, at the heart of the investigation is a simple but serious question. Did those in power blur the lines between their union responsibilities and their financial interests? And if so, what does that mean for the trust placed in them by the players they represent?