MLBPA director of communications resigns after 19 years

One of the most tenured spokesmen for the Major League Baseball Players Association is resigning, as Greg Bouris informed the union he would leave on Monday, according to The Associated Press.

Bouris, who served with the MLBPA for 19 years, is vacating his seat as director of communications amid turmoil between the players' union and the commissioner's office. The move comes in wake of the collective bargaining agreement that was ratified last offseason and a slow winter that saw limited spending on notable free agents.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement Tuesday that Bouris "was a consummate communications professional, who handled his duties with the utmost professionalism, dedication, and commitment."

With many free agents still available on the open market and pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training, some unemployed players opted to report to a free-agent spring training. However, the MLBPA has banned media from attending the camp.