Luhnow sues Astros, says firing was due to financials, not stealing signs
Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is suing the team, saying he was fired not because of the MLB sign-stealing scandal in 2017 and 2018, but to save owner Jim Crane $22 million in guaranteed salary. (more…)
Pensacola to embrace the mullet in 2021
A revival of a past promo features business in front and party in the back, as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) are bringing back the Pensacola Mullets promo and embracing every iteration of a mullet. (more…)
SI Yankees “shocked” by Yankees affiliate decision
Though it had been announced that the Short Season A NY-Penn League would potentially be transitioning to a summer-collegiate league, Staten Island Yankees management says they were not informed about being dropped by the New York Yankees as an affiliate. (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…)
Sports-broadcasting economy takes hits at Disney, Sinclair
With every major league relying heavily on broadcasting rights, two developments indicate some hiccups in that economy, with ESPN layoffs and huge losses at the 21 Sinclair Broadcasting regional sports networks (RSNs). (more…)
Future of Orioles ownership in transitional time
With John Angelos approved as the Baltimore Orioles control person and franchise buyers in the wings, the team is potentially entering a transitional time in the owner’s suite — but there’s no indication the team is leaving Oriole Park. (more…)
Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat for November 3, 2020
Jesse Goldberg-Strassler and Kevin Reichard discuss recent reporting on the upcoming MLB takeover of MiLB and cover additional topics relating to the takeover of MiLB, like travel updates and the potential death of Thirsty Thursdays, on this week’s Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat. (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…)
MiLB facility guidelines released; owners sanguine
MiLB owners and execs were issued proposed facility standards by Major League Baseball, but what was feared as extensive changes to ballparks ended up being a noncontroversial laundry list of modest updates. (more…)
Expanded spring training could delay 2021 MiLB season opener
A potential overhaul of spring training — forced in 2021 by COVID-19, but one that may end up being used in the future — has MLB and Triple-A players arriving in February, and remaining minor leaguers reporting in April, resulting in a later start to the 2021 MiLB season. (more…)
MLB owners approve Cohen purchase of Mets
Major League Baseball owners officially approved the $2.42-billion purchase of the New York Mets by Steve Cohen, clearing the way for a final closing of the deal in the next 10 days. (more…)