Brodie Van Wagenen, a prominent agent, took to Twitter at 11:21 a.m. on Friday, posting a statement that said players are outraged by what has been an inactive free agent market.

The behavior of the owners “feels coordinated, rightly or wrongly,’’ wrote Van Wagenen, the co-director of the Creative Artists Agency’s baseball division. He also raised the idea of players boycotting spring training in protest.

“There is a rising tide among players for radical change. A fight is brewing,’’ Van Wagenen wrote.

A few minutes later, a charity luncheon and panel discussion started at the Hotel Commonwealth. The topic was the business of baseball.

How’s that for timing?

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, one of the panelists, cannot recall a similar offseason. Dozens of players who could help contending teams remain unemployed with spring training set to start on Feb. 14 for most teams, including the Sox.

“This is by far the most unusual situation,’’ said Dombrowski, who started in baseball in 1978. “You usually have a player or two who might be out there in a particular year, but never the number of free agents that we have.

“I’m not really sure why. It’s been speculated all winter long. I think it’s probably a combination of factors. There’s usually not one single answer for something like that.’’

Dombrowski was not initially on the guest list. He replaced agent Scott Boras, who canceled his appearance.

Boras has a number of high-profile clients who remain unemployed. Outfielder J.D. Martinez, who hit 45 home runs last season, is of particular interest to the Red Sox. But talks have dragged on since early December.

“Ideally we’d like to add power to the lineup,’’ Dombrowski said. “It’s not easy to find.’’

Dombrowski said no additions are imminent. But he does believe the market will thaw. The Sox also could pursue bullpen help.

“It’s going to break at some point. I don’t know when it’s going to break,’’ Dombrowski said. “We’re ready and willing to move whenever it does.’’

Meanwhile, players and agents are becoming more militant.

MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark issued a statement that said free agency is under attack and the players will unite to defend it as they have before.

Another agent, Seth Levinson, also suggested there was collusion.

“There is no industry in this country where competing businesses act in virtually an identical manner,’’ he said in a statement.

Sox manager Alex Cora was signed as a free agent seven times in his career and played parts of 14 seasons. The system worked for him.

“I look back at my career and I’m glad I didn’t have to go through something like this,’’ he said.

Sox president Sam Kennedy said the slowdown has somewhat hurt business for the team. Ticket sales are down “a few percentage points’’ from the same time last year. A high-profile addition would change that, he predicted.

The sold-out event benefited Paul and Theo Epstein’s Foundation to Be Named Later and the Red Sox Foundation.

Bronson Arroyo, Bernie Williams, and Red Sox vice president of baseball operations Raquel Ferreira also attended along with Hall of Fame writer Peter Gammons.

The annual Hot Stove Cool Music concert will be Saturday at the Paradise.

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Dombrowski said the team’s relationship with Mookie Betts is fine following an arbitration hearing on Wednesday. Betts was awarded $10.5 million, becoming the first player to beat the Sox in a hearing since 1997. Dombrowski exchanged text messages with Betts and said he wanted to keep the right fielder in the organization for years to come . . . Cora will be at the University of Miami this weekend to honor coach Jim Morris, who is retiring after 25 seasons. He plans to arrive at Fenway South early next week to start working with the players.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.