Breaking: Group of Former MLB Players Granted Free Agency in the CBA

In what appears to be a massive loophole in the MLBPA bylaws, a group of former MLBPA players represented by agent Michael Chalmers have officially been declared Free Agents by the Championship Baseball League today. Sources close to the league’s Commissioner’s Office and the MLBPA have state that the loophole has since been closed, but there’s nothing the MLBPA can do to prevent these players from being signed to CBA teams.

The players below, all clients of Chalmers’ Shark Infested Waters sports agency, will be available for teams to sign in the 2025/2026 offseason:

C Christian Vasquez
IF Andrelton Simmons
IF Matt Chapman
OF Billy Hamilton
OF Jurickson Profar
OF Joc Pederson
P Tyler Kolek
P Mark Appel
P Patrick Mahomes

Many names on this list are interesting for a multitude of reasons. Simmons, Profar and Pederson were former top prospects in the MLB who never got a chance to grab a hold of superstardom. Vasquez, Chapman and Hamilton were lauded for their defense during their days in the big leagues, but weren’t able to translate that into effective every day roles.

Perhaps the most interesting name on the list is Patrick Mahomes. Once considered a top prospect, Mahomes opted to enter the NFL Draft, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs to eventually take over for Quarterback Alex Smith. This, of course, ended in Mahomes putting up some of the worst rookie numbers in NFL history in 2018, and eventually saw Mahomes lose his job to Jay Cutler in the middle of the 2019 season.

“This is an unprecedented occurrence, one that I’m sure will have some ramifications throughout the league,” said Chalmers, “Although these guys weren’t superstars in the MLB during their day, you have to remember that the majority of the players in the CBA were found in the streets, in farm towns, and whatever other back water places people were still playing baseball in. These 9 guys were groomed into the machine that was the MLB, and even though they’ve been out of practice for a few years, they should be able to contribute to any CBA team looking to make a push.”

There has been animosity between the CBA and what remains of the MLB ever since the CBA was officially founded in 2021. Most notably, a shadow group many believe was formed from the ashes of the MLB front office was responsible for many offensive and taunting billboards, radio and television advertisements in 2023. That campaign eventually ended in a winner-take-all matchup between the stars of the CBA and a roster of former MLB All-Stars. The CBA stars were able to win that game, and the players and the shadow group behind the Cooperstown Legends team haven’t been heard of since.

At this time, we have not been able to reach the MLBPA for comment.