MLBPA deputy executive director Bruce Meyer vows that the sudden resignation of union head Tony Clark won't weaken or distract the players' association as it prepares for negotiations with the league on a new collective bargaining agreement.

"Anybody who's going to assume that and act on that is really making a mistake," Meyer said Wednesday after meeting with Kansas City Royals players. "I'm not going to say this is a great thing; this is unforeseen. At the end of the day, leadership is important and leadership comes and goes, but what remains is the players.

"Our union is strong and always has been strong because of the solidarity of our members, of our players. That is going to continue, and as I've said in the past in different contexts, anybody who underestimates the strength of the MLB Players Association does so at their own peril."