According to a Report from Yahoo Sports; Donald Fehr, current Excutive Director of the NHLPA could be looking at a return to the MLBPA in the near future. Fehr was Executive Director of the MLBPA union for 26 years, and numerous battles, before retiring in 2009 and leaving the position to then MLBPA General Counsel Michael Weiner.
Weiner is still working as Executive Director of the Union, and even issued a statement this weak condemning leaks in the Biogenesis case. However, Weiner is not in good health. Weiner, 51, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last fall. While he is undergoing treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy, it is unclear how long he will be able to keep up with the busy job of being a union head.
This job could become especially dicey with the Biogenesis situation apparently ready to explode. MLB commission Bud Selig is reportedly considering over 20 suspensions in the case. If they go ahead, it will be sure to mean the union will be heavily involved in the numerous appeals and cases that are likely to be fought on the issues.
Weiner successfully negotiated the current MLB/MLBPA CBA that saw that sport be the only 1 of the big 4 to achieve a CBA without a work stoppage in the latest round of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Fehr, who has been head of the NHLPA since 2010 recently negotiated the NHL/NHLPA CBA, after the league lost nearly half a season to a prolonged lockout. However with the deal being for 8 years, and with his brother Steve Fehr waiting in the wings to take over the NHLPA from the 62-year-old Fehr, it is unlikely that he will be around for the next round of CBA negotitations.
Donald Fehr has left the NHLPA in good shape, and with the deteriorating health of the MLBPA head man, along with a juicy case at his fingertips, is now the perfect time for Fehr to return to the sport he worked in for so long? While no one is commenting, it certainly has to be something that is being considered behind closed doors.
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