October 19th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka On Thursday afternoon, MLB Trade Rumors reported (via Twitter) that a “Radical Restructuring” of MLB’s Minor League Baseball (MiLB) system appears to be on the (relatively) near horizon – up to and including the elimination of a great number of teams and the consolidation of several lower MiLB levels.
Rather than even attempt to paraphrase the information, here is what MLB Trade Rumors reported verbatim:
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MLB Reportedly Pursuing “Radical Restructuring” of Lower Minors
By Jeff Todd | October 18, 2019 at 1:11pm CDT
Major League Baseball is pursuing a “radical restructuring” of the lower minor-leagues, according to a report from David Waldstein of the New York Times. While the precise nature of the new arrangement isn’t yet written in stone, it certainly sounds as if significant change is all but inevitable.
Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper has yet more detail on the proposal, which could eliminate approximately one quarter of present minor-league affiliates. Numerous existing leagues would be reorganized in various manners to meet the various proposed goals.
Generally, the league seems to be pursuing a global rationalization and modernization of a system that came together over a long period of time in a somewhat ad hoc manner. There are surely some worthwhile goals in such an effort.
As deputy MLB commissioner Dan Halem puts it in his pitch, the aims include: “upgrading the minor league facilities that we believe have inadequate standards for potential MLB players, improving the working conditions for MiLB players, including their compensation, improving transportation and hotel accommodations, providing better geographic affiliations between major league clubs and their affiliates, as well as better geographic lineups of leagues to reduce player travel.”
There’d assuredly be costs here as well, beginning with the elimination of numerous independently owned ballclubs from the affiliated ranks. The concept would involve some of those teams in some form of “dream league” for undrafted players, though MLB and Minor League Baseball would own and operate the teams. It certainly sounds as if these proving grounds might also threaten the talent pipeline available to current indy ball outfits.
Notably, Minor League Baseball has advised its member teams against investing in any manner that relies upon a continuation of the existing arrangement beyond the 2020 season. That seems to be a fair indication of the seriousness of the principal actors here, even if there’s still uncertainty in the ultimate vision.
This effort has long been in the works. Commissioner Rob Manfred has certainly hinted previously at the possibility of major change, including in comments to Evan Drellich of The Athletic (subscription link) earlier this year. “I think that everybody understands that we have to look at the efficiency of the system that we’re running right now, how many teams, how many players, what we’re paying players, and all those issues are obviously related,” Manfred said.
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Needless to say, such a “radical restructuring” would have a huge impact on the current MLB First-Year Player Draft system; more specifically, it would significantly reduce the raw number of young athletes drafted and likewise the number of rounds of the annual MLB draft held each June. In other words, there would be considerably fewer college and high school baseball players drafted, in hopes of becoming one of only 780 major league baseball players (beginning in 2020) in the world.
The silver lining to all of this – at least for those minor leaguers who are not phased out of the game under these “all but inevitable” changes – is that they will finally … finally, receive the compensation that they so rightfully deserve. Keep in mind that aside from a handful of big-name top draft picks (who generally receive signing bonuses in the millions), the vast majority of minor leaguers receive less than minimum wage while pursuing their lifelong dream of becoming one of those precious few 780 – impossible odds at best.
What was not specified in the MLB Trade Rumors piece is exactly which levels of “the lower minor leagues” would be affected by these “all but inevitable” changes.
We will undoubtedly be hearing a lot more about this in the coming weeks and months, especially with MLB’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to expire at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Stay tuned…
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This all sounds like a “follow the money” moment.
Even though MLB is selling this as an attempt to “upgrade the minor league facilities that we believe have inadequate standards for potential MLB players, and improving the working conditions for MiLB players”. This sounds like a overall cost cutting, profit maximization move to me.
Less players drafted means less players under contract and less cost.
“Elimination of numerous independently owned ballclubs from the affiliated ranks” sounds like MLB wants more of the minor league baseball profits.
At the end of the day I’m betting, they’ll be more undrafted young players chasing the dream under even worse working conditions. There will always be lots of young kids willing to “work” (play baseball) for less than minimum wages.
Have to disagree pretty much across the board.
I can only assume that you never had the ‘pleasure’ of attending a minor league game at High Desert Stadium, once home to the Advanced Single-A High Desert Mavericks (Rangers) and now called Adelanto Stadium, home to the independent league High Desert Yardbirds. The place is pretty much a dump and the playing surface like concrete. And although I have never been there, I hear that Recreation Park, home to the 2019 Cal League champion Visalia Rawhide (Dbacks) isn’t exactly a gem of a ballpark either.
But, as noted in the BTR article, ANYTHING that might get the bulk of these grossly underpaid aspiring major leaguers a pay raise is ok in my book.
That ‘vast majority of minor leaguers receive less than minimum wage’ thing is not hyperbole, it is an absolute fact; just ask Minnesota Twins right-hander Randy Dobnak, who was an Uber driver until his MLB call-up on August 9, 2019.
I don’t disagree that this is a money thing, but as long as that money goes to the right places and people, I say bring it on!
Very interesting & necessary! Thank you
By no means was I implying that I thought minor leaguers were not underpaid. I totally buy into the less than minimum wage argument when you figure in travel time and the rest.
It just sounds like to me, and I’m no expert on this topic, that MLB will end up owning the good minor league affiliates and the Adelanto franchises will end up independently owned. The MLB minor league franchises may very well increase pay and benefits to the smaller number of players associated with MLB minor league teams. Meanwhile the Adelanto franchises will be stocked with “independent” players playing for independent owners with even less pay and benefits than they now receive.
I just don’t believe MLB has suddenly seen the errors of their ways. If MLB can reduce the First-Year Player Draft system from 40 rounds to 30 rounds and rid themselves of the cost of the most marginal players in the draft, sure they can afford to pay the players drafted in the first 30 rounds a little more. Especially if the MLB drafted players stock the AAA, AA and few remaining A MLB minor league franchises that are the money makers. Good for those guys, but Adelanto’s playing surface just got a lot harder for the rest of the guys.
Couple final thoughts, would those rare diamond in the rough undrafted players be free-agents signable by anyone? Would this cause young undraftable players to stay in college longer collecting zero pay and living off student loans?
Very valid points all.
I do think that reducing the number of draft rounds would indeed keep kids in college, but more so to improve their draft status in subsequent years than anything else (or wash them out at no cost to MLB/MiLB teams).
It seems to me that reducing the number of draft rounds (and draftees) would greatly benefit the indy leagues, as they could go after those not drafted by MLB teams.
Another thing to consider (which I neglected to mention) is that most MLB teams have scouts at EVERY indy league game and… well… you can figure out the rest.
I certainly see your points, but in the overall scheme of things, I see this as a win-win for all involved.
As Old Brooklyn Fan likes to say (ad nauseam): “WJHTWAS.”
Ron, those are xlnt points and make tons of sense, and lol, cents!
I see what you did there. ; )
I live in Washington,and I am a big AquaSox fan ( Class A affiliate of Mariners) I hope this radical MLB proposal won’t force the Sox to relocate. Everett is only 30 miles north of Seattle,so hopefully we can keep our team here,as well other ones too. I heard the main problems were stadium repairs,and geographical issues; ( ie; MILB teams too far away from their parent MLB club.