The Tri-City ValleyCats ownership is suing Major League Baseball and the Houston Astros for more than $15 million over the decision to exclude the Short Season A team from the revamped 120-team Minor League Baseball system in 2021. (more…)
Tag Archives | MiLB contraction
Sad ends to MiLB teams dumped by MLB
Not every MiLB team dumped by MLB in the sport’s reorganization has found a new home. For those teams, the end means a going-out-of-business sale and little else, as was the case with the Charlotte Stone Crabs (High A; Florida State League). (more…)
Mapping a baseball future outside of MiLB
For most teams not invited to be part of the 120 MiLB licensees, the options for 2021 and beyond are sliding into independent baseball or going the summer-collegiate route. Both will involve plenty of change. (more…)
Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat for December 10, 2020
Jesse Goldberg-Strassler and Kevin Reichard discuss the big reveal of the 120 MiLB teams for 2021, what angst it caused in the MiLB world, how this process is far from over, and what comes next, on this week’s special edition of the Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat. (more…)
In MiLB, the brain drain is real
One of the saddest parts of MLB’s takeover of Minor League Baseball is watching the best and the brightest in MiLB either walk away or forced out of the game. Here are a few of their stories. (more…)
MLB teams being apprised of their MiLB affiliates
We are closer to a resolution of the MLB extreme makeover of Minor League Baseball, as major-league teams are being appraised about their affiliates in 2021 and beyond–though not every MLB team is happy about the changes. (more…)
Thunder owner Plumeri: We were betrayed by Yankees
Trenton Thunder owner Joseph Plumeri issued a sharp statement about the decision by the New York Yankees to sever its affiliation with the Class AA Eastern League team in favor of a new relationship with the Somerset Patriots. (more…)
Let the Affiliate Dance begin!
With the announcement today by the New York Yankees about their new affiliate structure, we’ve updated and overhauled our Affiliate Dance page to better track the offseason overhaul of Minor League Baseball. (more…)
Yankees announce affiliate changes in first glimpse of MiLB overhaul
The New York Yankees will add the formerly independent Somerset Patriots as a Double-A affiliate and the Hudson Valley Renegades as a High-A affiliate, positioning the Trenton Thunder with a potential move to the Atlantic League. (more…)
Details of MLB takeover of MiLB emerge
It’s crunch time in the takeover of MiLB by MLB, with sweeping changes to Class A leagues, unresolved transitions for the Pioneer and NY-Penn Leagues, and plenty of new affiliations—but still no final list of the 120 teams comprising the future of Minor League Baseball. (more…)
Freund joins MLB in MiLB reorganization push
Peter Freund, owner of two MiLB teams and a partner with the New York Yankees, has been enlisted by Major League Baseball to help navigate issues as MLB takes over control of Minor League Baseball and address the challenges created by contraction to 120 affiliates. (more…)
It’s official: 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled
Though we’ve been discussing this for months, we saw the official word come down today: Minor League Baseball is canceled for 2020, but things are going to get much worse over the next six-to-eight months during the expected contraction. (more…)
Grassley: Three Iowa teams safe from contraction
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says three Iowa teams–the Iowa Cubs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Cedar Rapids Kernels and Quad Cities River Bandits (both Low A; Midwest League)–are safe from contraction after communication with MLB officials. (more…)