Players gather for 2015 MLBPA executive board meeting

More than 50 players gathered at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 for the Players Association's 2015 Executive Board Meeting, where they reviewed issues that affect players on and off the field, the industry, and the game itself.

"It was an extremely productive four days," executive director Tony Clark said. "We've never had a brighter, better-informed, more engaged or more principled leadership group than this one. These guys care about the game of baseball, each other, the players before them and those who will someday take over their lockers."

A key focus of the four-day meeting was collective bargaining with the current Basic Agreement set to expire on Dec. 1, 2016, and bargaining expected to begin this spring.

Players and PA staff covered a full range of topics, including industry economics, player-market trends, grievance and arbitration procedures, the joint drug program, the reserve system, the amateur draft, international play, their benefit plan, business affairs, replay and pace-of-game rules, scheduling, travel and in-stadium issues.

Additionally, the players attended to MLBPA administrative affairs, making operational decisions that affect their union.