MLBPA head: 'Race to the bottom' threatens game's integrity

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in a little over a week, nearly 100 free agents remain unsigned, which prompted MLBPA head Tony Clark to release a statement Tuesday citing his and the union's concerns.

"A record number of talented free agents remain unemployed in an industry where revenues and franchise values are at record highs," Clark's statement read, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick

"Spring training has always been associated with hope for a new season. This year a significant number of teams are engaged in a race to the bottom. This conduct is a fundamental breach of the trust between a team and its fans and threatens the very integrity of the game.''

Clark's words come after a statement from agent Brodie Van Wagenen, who hinted at a possible spring training boycott if players continued to go unsigned.

While Clark explained that players wouldn't boycott in any way, he did specifically mention franchise's approaches to building their rosters as a major concern that's left free agents unemployed and could threaten how fans view the game.

"As we sit here on Feb. 6, having a historic number of guys available speaks to the concerns about competition on the field,'' Clark wrote. "Historically there have been teams that rebuild - one or two here and there. You have an appreciation for a team looking to reposition itself. In a climate where a significant number of teams are taking that position, it calls into question what fans are supporting and what players themselves are competing against.

"Every player wants to play against the best. That's just how we're wired. To the extent that we have a historic number of players still on the market, it calls into question what exactly as an industry we're trying to accomplish against the backdrop of competitive balance - which is the underlying theme of our collectively bargained agreement.''

MLB responded to Clark's statement with one of its own.

"Our clubs are committed to putting a winning product on the field for their fans. Owners own teams for one reason: they want to win. In baseball, it has always been true that clubs go through cyclical, multi-year strategies directed at winning.

"It is common at this point in the calendar to have large numbers of free agents unsigned. What is uncommon is to have some of the best free agents sitting unsigned even though they have substantial offers, some in nine figures. It is the responsibility of players' agents to value their clients in a constantly changing free agent market based on factors such as positional demand, advanced analytics, and the impact of the new basic agreement. To lay responsibility on the clubs for the failure of some agents to accurately assess the market is unfair, unwarranted, and inflammatory."

Lorenzo Cain's five-year, $80-million pact with the Milwaukee Brewers remains the most lucrative contract signed this offseason, while slugger J.D. Martinez and pitchers Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta are three of the most noteworthy free agents still without jobs.