4:00pm: Minor League Baseball has formally announced the cancellation of its 2020 season.
12:15pm: The 2020 minor-league season will be canceled, according to a report from Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper and Josh Norris. While widely expected, the news comes as a major blow to the minor-league teams and many young players who were hopeful of continuing to chase after a coveted MLB roster spot.
This was already shaping up to be a rough campaign for the minors long before the coronavirus was on anyone’s radar. As 2019 came to a close, a tense and rather high-profile battle was already underway regarding MLB’s plans for cutting down on the number of minor-league affiliates.
Minor League Baseball’s effort to defend its member teams was greatly imperiled by the global pandemic. Public attention, for good reason, has been elsewhere. And minor-league teams have experienced a more-or-less complete halt to revenue.
A resumption of play might have helped. There were times when it seemed plausible, but any hope dissipated over recent weeks. Even as MLB and its players haggled over the terms for a big league resumption, a ramp-up of virus transmission in many parts of the United States served to increase the already great logistical challenges to a MiLB season.
We’ll see how the broader picture turns out. For now, it’s a rough situation for minors clubs that rely entirely upon in-person gameday revenue (and advertising associated with anticipated spectatorship).
The situation is obviously also detrimental to the players that are now sitting at home without a clear path to playing baseball in 2020. Some limited number of prospects — generally, those with clear paths to the majors — have been invited to participate in MLB summer camps and ongoing training. But those that weren’t named to 60-man player pools will have to get creative.
There is a potential indie ball outlet, but that’s not likely to provide many opportunities. The Baseball America team has reported that some players are participating in local amateur leagues, though the level of competition will obviously not be up to the typical standard. Fortunately, most MLB teams are committing at least to paying $400 weekly stipends to the minor-leaguers that are left in limbo. That’s a help, but hardly a full solution for those players that were not already cut loose from their organizations.
Didn’t realize this hadn’t already been announced. Another loss for the more vulnerable people in baseball.
It was never “official” but everyone knew it was coming…..
Same.
not exactly a surprise. advantage to the winter leagues.
mlb next, count on it
Another step to the death of baseball. Rather than trying to build the game, they are making it harder to enjoy the game live. If they eliminate 40 + minor league teams, fewer people and families will be expose to the game of baseball. Very sad to see how they are killing the game.
this is just about this year. this would be a hard variable to deal with on top of the Majors and was bound to happen.
Maybe. Savannah, GA, Sand Gnats relocated a number of years ago to Columbia, SC. Gnats were replaced by a summer college league and the Savannah Bananas. Fewer games, but attendance is pretty much the same per game. Local fans dont care players are not MiLB pros.
More uniformity in minor leagues can only be a good thing. Right now the wealthier teams can afford more minor league affiliates, which makes the disparity in baseball only wider as they have more opportunity to develop players.
Reducing affiliated minor league teams would also allow for more independent baseball leagues to develop and take their place, so the available baseball won’t even be reduced.
Keep buying their Kool-Aid. Each MLB team has one AAA, AA, Advanced A, Low A, and Short season A team. Any variation is with rookie league teams. In 2019 – the Yankees had 9 total minor league teams and the small market Indians had 8 and they shared a 9th team with the Brewers. The Yankees had 3 rookie league teams and 1 foreign rookie league team. The Indians had 2 rookie league teams and 2 (one shared with the Brewers) foreign rookie league team.. There is not enough difference to destroy minor league baseball for some communities.
There are 5 minor league teams and one independent team within 2 and a half hours of Cleveland. I have been to all five minor league parks and have yet to attend an independent game and have little interest to do so.
Money has ZERO to do with how many teams ML have at lower levels, ZERO!! They all have AZL and or GCL rookie teams, most have “short season” however it’s not like a team can have multiple 2A or 3A teams. Most affiliates have zero to do with ML owners or clubs besides providing complex to play and usual game BS(lights, how dogs etc) most are independently owned and operated.
Problem with this though, is without any MLB affiliation only a small handful of teams will continue. This was an issue even before pandemic. No franchise $$ makes it really tough to pay for equip., facilities and hold fan interest.
You should seriously stop posting.
You should seriously try posting something relevant to the topic at hand.
send manfraud to north korea in exchange for any americans jailed there!
Manfred would ruin North Kores
Guys a clown. Get him a circus job in Montana. Never to here from in again.
Put him on a remote island with Gary Bettman.
He could screw up the proverbial 2 car funeral.
And now it’s official. My smattering hope of anything happening to change the decision is now wiped out.
Shortsightedness and greed can often be found near each other.
if this was about money then it would have been done in the past before there was a pandemic. this is about the virus.
Yes, this season not being played is due to the virus. MLB still plans to eliminate 40 or more minor league teams and reorganize and streamline the minor leagues.. If that happens, many regions of the country will not have baseball. How do you grow the game by eliminating teams and the constant war between the owners and the players.
oh i know that, im just saying that is independent of 2020 being cancelled, which the commenter seems to be suggesting.
That was my first thought when talk first surfaced about cutting minor-league affiliates: How does that help the game? It would be counter-productive.
This will be tough to offset, but expansion could help. If they managed to create 4 new teams, there would be a need for 20 minor-league teams. The could take it a step further, though, and show the people that communities matter. Right now, I would imagine most people think that money is the lone focus.
I’d like to see expansion fees waived for at least 2 new teams and ownership/control given to organizations like the NAACP, SNCC, or even the ACLU. Conditionally, of course, so that the franchises couldn’t be sold and the organizations must remain not-for-profit. All profit would have to go to community programs and back into the organization. That would be one way to show the people that baseball is indeed America’s pastime–and present; grow the game.
Though MLB would miss out on the franchise fees, they’d still benefit from television rights, both for the regular season and expanded postseason, which would be a byproduct of all this.
Cue the snark and criticism. This may not be a perfect solution, but it could lead to something productive both on and off the field, and it was Ian Desmond’s post that made me think about a way MLB could be proactive.
The owners have clearly shown they value short term profit over long term profit and growing the games brand. Its disappointing but that was their choice.
Sorry I was a bit out of context here.
Minor leagues as we know are toast.
The current situation was a convenient way to get that done per owners.
Most of you know that.
In a few years, there will only be a handful of minor league baseball or hockey teams left unless their parent leagues subsidize them.
Their business models BARELY worked before, now, they have little chance.
Again, unless MLB and the NHL are willing to lose money in order to maintain the development systems, which they will do if they can think with any sort of long term strategy.
MLB has shown almost no ability to do that. And the NHL has less resources even if they do.
Doesn’t look good.
That is not true. There are developmental leagues like the OHL, WHL and the QMJHL for hockey ( plus college and overseas leagues like the Swedish elite league and KHL) Plus more and more American kids are choosing hockey. Baseball is a different animal I worry about it’s future
True. The CHL and colleges and Euro leagues are free to the NHL. I meant the AHL, ECHL, etc.
Basically, I think you could see a 16 team AHL and the ECHL vanish entirely if the each team isn’t willing to eat some cost to maintain their own minor league teams.
Toledo, Ohio has an ECHL franchise and the team is very healthy with many games sold out. I don’t see the ECHL vanishing any time soon.
Maybe because there is nothing to do in Toledo?? Saw it written on a crapper wall once, and its makes sense. “Flush twice, its a long way to Toledo.”
Either you eat out, go to jazz bars, eat hot dogs, or go to ECHL, or dodge the constant wind.
I am a New York Islanders fan. They have had for many years a minor league affiliate
In Bridgeport Connecticut and they will be okay.,
What part of model “barely” worked? You ever see a minor league teams financials? All make money! All!! Why do you think some of these minor league teams have expanded seating, built new stadiums etc. anyone who thinks milb teams are broke have no clue what they are talking about!! They ALL make money!! All
I really hope this is a poor attempt at sarcasm, palmboy. If not, you just won stupid comment of the day….even trumping Halo11 and that is extremely tough to do.
Your obsession w Halo is unhealthy bro, i suggest taking some time off of the site
Oh right, I forgot that in baseball they pay the players actual slave wages.
In minor league hockey, where the AHL pays a $65,000 minimum, it’s a bit tighter.
I would hardly call $30k for 4 .5 months of work slave wages. Are you just a troll? Good by!
forwhom doesn’t know what a job is, let alone having a second job in an offseason to earn extra income.
Salaries aren’t what you seem to think they are.
baseballamerica.com/stories/report-major-league-ba…
They’ll go up in 2021, which is almost certainly a prelude to the next CBA negotiations.
I know I wouldn’t trade mine for three of yours.
The worst news of the century. No Buffalo Bisons, Asheville Tourists or Olean Oilers. Impossible pressure for the people of America. Please call up Colton Welker to the Rockies so we can at least see him.
Asheville fan or just Rockies? I live in AVL. Bummed no Tourists this year. But I’m playing in a semi-pro bush league, so I’m getting my baseball fix.
Sad, but something we all knew. We were just waiting for it to be official.
Does anyone know what it would cost for MLB to prop up miLB for one season in total?
18 quadrillion pesos.
Really bad news for the rebuilding clubs especially. A lost seasons slows the development process. But bad news all around.
Rhetorical question. MLB runs baseball from top to bottom. If the top can play and the same owners say the bottom can’t will minors leaguers become free agents? Can they go to the National Association and file a grievance? They are not receiving the correct salary only a stipend!
No because all constructs state league can suspend without pay at anytime, while your stuck since no other team can hire you
They need to unionize. Plain and simple.
You want to kill something, unionize it.
exactly, instead we should just let owners get away with everything, they always put humane interests before greed
The Players Association does not even care about Minor Leaguers. If they did, they could have unionized long ago.
Minor leaguers are just passing through. The better players go to the majors, the lesser players to another career
Nails down the point that players have a wasting asset–youth–that is harder to replace than just money. The pandemic will end up doing what MLB wanted to fo with the minor leagues–cull them. As for the players, lost developmental time, one more year in the minors to delay service time and eventual free agency. Tough situation.
If I’m a big market team I start my own minor league, roughly 6 teams and let them develop. For the cost of one expensive player they might develop multiple players.
Expected, but still a bummer.
I think the only place they can reduce the minors is at the low levels. This could mean more players go to college to play baseball. That’s likely fine for American players but could be problematic for players from other countries. And that’s a big problem area for the draft as well. I like the independent leagues although they have somewhat wiped out the amateur leagues. These are the places where you play for the love of the game and nothing more. The league that I played in was started in 1930 and is gone now. It was great while it lasted.
I do not think it will be as big for foreign players as one might think. Look at Venezuela, it has an oppressive government and the economy is horrible and they still produce quality players. Why? Baseball is a rare opportunity to improve lives of the players and their families, and they will keep it going. For the American kid, there are more opportunities and they might choose a different path then baseball.
Within a month, the majors will follow.
Maybe someone can organize the best players into a league playing without fans and streaming the games for a fee and with advertising to pay salary and costs. I’d watch that instead of a 60 game MLB schedule. They might make more than they did under the current system
Feel for the guys pursuing their dreams. They will have to stay motivated and in shape.
Just like that the Pawtucket Red Sox will leave RI for Worcester. So much for a farewell season
I’m not convinced that the MLB season won’t be cancelled too.
I moved from a large city to a medium-sized one a dozen or so years ago. Was a bit ahead of my time, as we’re starting to see flight from big cities to smaller ones to take advantage of quality of life. This can be done for one major reason – technology. What the pandemic is teaching employers is not just that an employee can work productively from home; he/she/it can do it from thousands of miles away (as MLBTR writers do).
Most MiLB franchises have historically lost money. It’s why they sign working agreements with MLB teams, that in turn pay money to offset the losses. But technology is, and has been for years now, decentralizing things in our daily lives. If one is captivated with baseball, they can buy the MLB.TV package for just a bit over $100 a year, and watch games to their hearts content not just live, but on demand 24/7/365 as well. There’s even an MiLB package. If they want to get out, they can go to any number of sports bars in smaller cities and watch multiple games on large screens, socialize and meet people (often of the opposite sex). Sure, going to a game live can be a nice family outing, but even areas with A and AA teams have recreational type entertainment of the Six Flags type within driving distance, where families can spend a day actually participating in things as opposed to sitting in a seat and watching endless foul balls being hit as they wait for something to happen.
What none of the posts above note is the reality of living in a minor league city. A reality that starts with – if your team has a good player, he’ll be promoted off the team during the season. Then there’s the reality of local newspapers – technology again. Local newspapers even in MLB cities are dying, as locals get their news via sources they choose on the Internet. The problem is how does the average fan in a minor league area read publicity about players on team, which in turn make fans want to see the players in person. The times I’ve been to games here, the fans might know about one or two highly regarded players, the rest are just uniforms.
Point being that the future for MiLB is not good. Worse still, many of those players were getting some of their post-high school training playing college baseball. But now that is being curtailed, as college enrollment has been dropping for 4-5 years now due to students and their parents realizing that the majority of college degrees are pretty much worthless in qualifying them for a job, so that the entry-level jobs they’re offered are ones they could have gotten out of high school, and not be stuck with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. As enrollment is dropping, other then major colleges, most are cutting back on sports programs – and in general, baseball is cut before basketball, football, and (don’t laugh) girls volleyball (Title VIIII strikes).
Calling MLB owners “cheap” is simply a sign that one has no grasp of the situation. MiLB is a product that has not had a great following since MLB started expansion (particularly into the West) in 1960. No one can continue to subsidize a product that people do not want…..unless they’re the Federal government and can print money to get cronies (or their relatives) high-paying jobs to administer the program.
Oh.
Thinking, knowledge, and life experiences are so yesterday….all one has to do is make a snide personal comment.
Bet you have a college degree!
Did it come in handy during the recent paper shortage?
Oh.
I really appreciated this post. Personally, I think most people go to minor league games as an excuse to do something. Like, they may want to see the Red Sox game but not pay the cost it would take to go to Fenway Park. Thus, my grandpa loved taking us to the Portland Sea Dogs in Portland, ME. Nearby, cheap, and they have their own Green Monster.
Nobody really cared to know of the players. Only my grandpa knew because of his dedication in looking at baseball stats. At the time, Hanley Ramirez was the star player for the Double-A team.
There’s always news stories here and there about local ball clubs. The Portland Sea Dogs got onto Boston news networks because Jacoby Ellsbury and Cris Crawford we’re both rehabbing on Sea Dogs at the same time. I almost sent to see a game but at the time I worked weekends and couldn’t make it.
There is a short-A ball club near my home in Lowell MA. And honestly, I don’t fully understand all the different single-A clubs. You’d think it’d be simpler to have an A, AA, and AAA clubs. Three clubs and that be that. Maybe have a fourth ball club called Pre-A. But why have so many teams? Especially if they all take losses. Well… then reduce the losses.
Baseball should play on the backs of college a bit more. Every other sport gets their talent from college sports, NBA, NFL, and most of the NHL. Perhaps baseball should follow suit.
My local team is still putting on a Fourth of July fireworks display. You bring a carload of family, get two parking spaces so chairs and grills can be set up, also getting food from concessions as part of the package.
Cost? Two hundred friggin’ dollars. That’s insane.
And free coronavirus
A bit pricy. I’d be willing to pay something for good seats for a fireworks show, but $200 seems like a lot.
MLB would be better in the long run had they cancelled their season and supported a minor league season. There are far more players and communities impacted through this cancellation than those impacted by the major league.
For the folks complaining about the minor league salary structure, this is pretty much the same for anyone trying to eke out a living in off-beat professions. How much do you think lower tier musicians make at the local pub, or people putting on stage productions at the local HS, or writers and artists.
There are certain professions where you are either king or servant, with nothing in between.