After months of fighting MLB's proposal to cut 40 affiliates, MiLB is now expected to agree to the reduction as part of their next Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA).
This is according to a report by JJ Cooper of Baseball America.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone in the sports world, including minor-league affiliates. With their 2020 season delayed and possibly in jeopardy because of the shutdown, MiLB is now more motivated to get a new PBA in place before the current one expires at the end of the year.
There are currently 160 minor-league affiliates. The cut will reduce that total to 120, not counting the rookie affiliates that play at a team's spring training facility.
Most of the cuts will be short-season A and rookie-level franchises. Last month the league and players union agreed to a shortened amateur draft for 2020 and 2021, reducing the number of players coming into organizations and the need for these types of franchises.
MLB cited poor facilities as the main reason why they wanted the cuts, and both sides wanted to see affiliates improve facility standards. MLB teams would have seen a reduction in player development costs under Manfred's plan as well.
Accepting the reduction would be a major concession by MiLB towards getting a new PBA in place.
The Pirates would lose a rookie-level affiliate, the Bristol Pirates, in these cuts. The club acquired the franchise in October, 2013. Their season is scheduled to start June 22, though that might change depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
Other minor-league teams that are on the chopping block and are close to Pittsburgh are the Tigers' Erie SeaWolves, the Cardinals' State College Spikes and the Mariners' West Virginia Power, located in Charleston, WV.
Update: Minor League Baseball released a statement regarding those reports Tuesday afternoon which can be found below.
It remains to be seen how the impact of Wednesday's meeting will be felt, but in the meantime this process is far from over.
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