The latest MLB owners’ offer to players had an ugly twist.
Instead of finding solutions for minor leaguers (who aren’t directly represented by the Players Association) to have better opportunities, the league asked for the ability to eliminate hundreds of minor league playing jobs, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Major League Baseball asked for the ability to eliminate hundreds of minor league playing jobs in its latest labor proposal, sources told ESPN. The league would not be allowed to implement the plan until after 2022.
Details, free and unlocked, at ESPN: https://t.co/ZkKNE7LhsG
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 15, 2022
That plan would be enforced, if approved, after 2022.
At a time in which minor leaguers were starting to make some strides regarding their rights (MLB mandated teams to provide every minor league player with housing last year, for example), the league is making a major misstep.
Basically, MLB wants to be able to manipulate the size of the Domestic Reserve List of minor league teams.
That list dictates the number of minor leaguers each team can roster at any time, and is currently ay 180.
Hundreds Of Minor League Playing Jobs Could Be Lost
The Commissioner’s office wants to have the ability to reduce to as few as 150 players for the rest of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after 2022.
The offer does state that MLB could adjust the size of the list “up or down.”
However, at a time in which there are lots of money-related issues with the Players Association, it’s hard to see them increasing the number of available jobs.
Per Passan, it’s not the first time MLB has sought to gain the ability to manipulate the size of the Domestic Reserve List, but the plan is always rejected by the union.
It’s important to remember that the minor leagues suffered a huge hit recently, as MLB eliminated 42 teams in December 2020.
It’s baffling how the league continues to mistreat minor leaguers, which is ultimately the source of talent for MLB teams.
Most minor leaguers made between $8,000 and $14,000 in 2021 for seven months of play.
That borders on the poverty line.
As long as the league doesn’t respect minor leaguers, they will never have fans’ approval.
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