Saving minor league baseball might be one of the few things that Democrats and Republicans can agree upon these days.
On Tuesday, over 100 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter expressing their “firm opposition” to MLB’s “radical” restructuring of the minor leagues. The proposal includes the elimination of 42 teams, including the Mets’ Double-A Binghampton Rumble Ponies and the Rookie-level Staten Island Yankees.
“If enacted, it would undermine the health of the minor league system that undergirds talent development and encourages fan loyalty,” the letter, which was addressed to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, reads. The letter comes as the MLB owners begin three days of meetings in Arlington, Texas.
The letter, sent by Representatives Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and David McKinley (R-W. Va.), included a signature from Max Rose (Democrat, NY-11), whose district encompasses all of Staten Island.
Notably, the strongly-worded letter references Congress’ support “on a wide variety of legislative initiatives,” which likely refers to recent bills like 2018’s Save America’s Pasttime act, which allowed MLB to skirt minimum wage law with minor league athlete labor, and thus, dramatically suppress minor league wages.
“For over a century, Congress has taken numerous actions specifically designed to protect, preserve, and sustain a system and structure for both Major and Minor League Baseball to flourish,” the letter continues, a thinly veiled warning about the league’s antitrust exemption.
MLB’s plan — reported over the weekend in the Daily News — would also limit the amount of minor league players to 150 per organization and cut the 40 round draft by as much as half.
MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem told Baseball America that the dramatic restructuring would improve player conditions by “(increasing) compensation, improving transportation and hotel accommodations, providing better geographic affiliations between major league clubs and their affiliates.”
The letter also argues the ballclubs themselves are “vital components” of the communities represented by the signees because they support local businesses, provide affordable entertainment and employ thousands of people.