MLB, MiLB Reportedly Near Deal to Downsize
Yesterday morning, Baseball America broke the news that MiLB and MLB would be meeting today to negotiate the next PBA, with the former agreeing to the latter’s demands to reduce from 162 affiliates to 120. Yesterday afternoon, MiLB issued a “denial.”
Why the quotes? Note the Pitino-esque “largely.”
Plus, this isn’t just BA – multiple sources are reporting this.
If God is in the details—and so, so many are atheists—it’s worth taking a look at what will reportedly come with this Hobson’s choice:
- MLB will assume most of the day-to-day administration and control (like it did in the ’90s with the A.L. and N.L. offices)
- Affiliations will now resemble licensing agreements (like hotel or restaurant chains)
- MLB will sell media rights and sponsorship (like the formation of MLBAM)
If it seems like MiLB is giving up a lot, well, it’s because they are, and because they have to.
Unlike MLB, which has been increasingly making its money in ways independent of attendance, MiLB needs those asses in the seats, eating hot dogs, drinking beer, and buying overpriced souvenirs.
And if there’s no minor-league baseball in 2020, consider what that means for 2021 (from BA last week):
Without a season, the best way for minor league teams to take care of season ticket-holders and advertisers is to offer make-goods for 2021. With no 2020 season, an advertiser who has paid in full has effectively already paid for 2021. One who has made a partial payment is due a refund or some other make-good.
I suspect very strongly that MLB will be willing to help… for a share of the ownership, if not outright. As stated previously, experts believe the endgame has always been for MLB to buy back its affiliates for pennies on the dollar.
Perhaps the pandemic will achieve in one year instead of what might have been several.
Here is the list of 42 teams that MLB proposed contracting when the issue first became public in 2019: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/all-42-teams-reportedly-up-for-elimination-in-mlbs-minor-league-reduction-proposal/
They probably will be some tweaks, but for now, 4 AA teams are eliminated which would mean that 4 current single A teams would move up to AA. The one team that seems really out of place on the contraction list is the Frederick Keys. They led the Carolina League in attendance, and are a natural fit to be the Orioles Single A franchise. Guessing that the most of the remaining SALLY League teams would combine with the remaining Carolina League teams to form the East Coast High A League.
This almost seems like an idea to trim trim light years past when some orgs had two affiliates in certain levels
Frederick just doesn’t make sense. That is the real scalp scratcher
What with technology : could we be looking at marketing / licensing whereby we could be watching games played from spring training complexes in AZ/ FL with
High tech cameras the size which could fit in a shopping bag with social distanced scouts , staff and a Handful of fans in seats ?? Truly surreal
I recall following Clinton in person in the MWL when with the Expos link and the three cities in MWL on the chopping block were not drawing well back in 2000.
A lot of folks insist that list was preliminary, which inclusions like Frederick seem to suggest. On the Athletic, one person had this intriguing suggestion:
Have all 30 MLB teams house their AAA teams on-site with the big league club.
When your team is home, a doubleheader every night with a 7-inning AAA game starting at 4:30 or 5:00. AAA game played after an MLB day game.
AAA “divisions” could be realigned to reduce travel.
MLB would have quicker access to roster changes.
All AA squads get “moved” to their old AAA city.
All [high] A squads get moved to their old AA city.
[All Low A squads get moved to their old High-A city]
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Obviously, this person is ignorant of the finer points of MiLB (hence the brackets), but consider that this plan would upgrade an awful lot of stadiums. Unfortunately, it would also eliminate 70 affiliates.
This is so disheartening on so many levels.
Essentially MLB stepping on throats when they’re down. Disgusting!