MLB responds to MLBPA about free-agent quotes

Major League Baseball has responded to a statement by the MLB Players Association regarding anonymous executives commenting on the value of unsigned free agents Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew.

"Over the years, I have learned that it is a waste of time to pay attention to anonymous quotes which may or may not be genuine," MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Given that the regular season is well underway, it is hard to imagine that anonymous comments would have any effect whatsoever on the market for any individual player. There are many other factors that better explain the current situation faced by a very small number of free agents."

In a story by ESPN, there were anonymous quotes discussing the value of the two players in terms of dollars and other factors that would go into a decision whether or not to pursue them.

That caused MLBPA executive director Tony Clark to issue the following statement: "I am angered that numerous, anonymous baseball executives have blatantly and intentionally violated our collective bargaining agreement by offering to ESPN comments about the free-agent values of Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales.

"These statements undermine the free-agent rights of the players and depress their market value. Today, I have called upon the Commissioner's Office to investigate immediately and thoroughly the sources of these statements and to take appropriate action to enforce our agreement."