From Maury Brown’s Biz of Baseball

Executive Director Michael Weiner releasing the following statement, which reads in-part,

“If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.”:

“The recent passage by Arizona of a new immigration law could have a negative impact on hundreds of Major League players who are citizens of countries other than the United States. These international players are very much a part of our national pastime and are important members of our Association. Their contributions to our sport have been invaluable, and their exploits have been witnessed, enjoyed and applauded by millions of Americans. All of them, as well as the Clubs for whom they play, have gone to great lengths to ensure full compliance with federal immigration law .

“The impact of the bill signed into law in Arizona last Friday is not limited to the players on one team. The international players on the Diamondbacks work and, with their families, reside in Arizona from April through September or October. In addition, during the season, hundreds of international players on opposing Major League teams travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks. And, the spring training homes of half of the 30 Major League teams are now in Arizona. All of these players, as well as their families, could be adversely affected, even though their presence in the United States is legal. Each of them must be ready to prove, at any time, his identity and the legality of his being in Arizona to any state or local official with suspicion of his immigration status. This law also may affect players who are U.S. citizens but are suspected by law enforcement of being of foreign descent.

“The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.

“My statement reflects the institutional position of the Union. It was arrived at after consultation with our members and after consideration of their various views on this controversial subject.”

full article

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I am, no fan of the law–but I am not sure what actions the MLBPA would consider, or if they would be in any way successful.

There have been calls for a boycott of the Diamondbacks, seeing as their owners are major supporters of that state’s Republican party, but I’m not sure it’s necessarily fair to punish that team’s players, including the ones at the lower levels of the organization (who we’re ostensibly trying to help) for political disagreements with the team’s owners.

I will, however, say that I hope that perhaps those most affected by it will make themselves heard come November.