Play.
The union is fighting for middle-class free agents.
The market for middle-class MLB players and what the union is looking for in labor talks are discussed by the three men. (2:28)
Within minutes of the players being locked out, Major League Baseball scrubbed all remnants of their likenesses from its official websites, replacing them with generic silhouettes.
The players decided to lean all the way in.
The players changed their profile pictures on the social networking site to generic silhouettes in solidarity with the league's action. The decision to change a player's profile picture was a joke in a small player text group chat, according to New York Mets pitcher Trevor Williams, who was one of the first to do so.
Williams said it was just being silly. It's a joke. By posting a picture of what MLB does, we're doubling down on what they're doing. It's not supposed to be serious.
It's amazing to see players change their avi. MLB can take away our image, but never our likeness.
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December 2, 2021.
I don't know what likeness means.
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December 2, 2021.
The lack of a collective bargaining agreement made the league legally obligated to remove all player likenesses, commissioner Rob Manfred said during a news conference Thursday.
Along with Williams, Joe Musgrove, Lucas Giolito, New York Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon and Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker were among the first players to change their profile pictures on the social networking site.
The players can't use team facilities or work with trainers because of the Lockout. Taillon had surgery in October to repair an ankle injury and was expected to be out for five months.
Since MLB chose to lock us out, I'm not able to work with our amazing team Physical Therapists who have been leading my post surgery care/progression," Taillon said. What should my first order of business be? I think I'm done with this boot. It can go.
Since MLB locked us out, I'm not able to work with our amazing team Physical Therapists who have been leading my post surgery care/progression. What should my first order of business be? I think I'm done with this boot. It can go.
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December 2, 2021.
The bit caught on among those not in the initial group chat. When Mets pitcher Trevor May woke up Thursday, he noticed players were changing their profile pictures.
May said that he saw it and did what he was told. I'm all for it when it comes to social media. I went for it. I'm trying to send a weak message. This is a funny way for players to poke fun at the league. It's a funny way to point out that they don't have anything without us.
Other players who joined in were Ian Happ, Sean Doolittle, Randy Dobnak, J.P. Crawford, and Shed Long Jr.
