Buster Olney dropped his latest column for ESPN+ on Sunday, which he opens by discussing the current state of minor league baseball.
Sunday Notes: plan to contract the minors could cost MLB more than money https://t.co/owkJhJnbTU Plus, SP market, Hamels, a Trout milestone
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 24, 2019
Olney recalls a conversation he had with a minor league player about a decade ago, who told him about the culture shock of going from a college program to the minor leagues, as well as some of the difficulties he and many other minor leaguers faced.
“Finding food on salaries effectively below minimum wage. Getting enough rest through the long days of bus travel. Maintaining a weight-training program when some facilities had almost no equipment. Through all of that, trying to learn more about your chosen craft while playing on fields of varying quality.”
Olney said that while many front offices have addressed these issues over the past decade, there is now a much larger issue looming over minor league baseball.
The MLB recently announced a plan to reduce the number of minor league teams and affiliations by 42. Some argue that this move would be beneficial since fewer teams would allow clubs to better accommodate and pay their minor leaguers. However, others lament that many small cities and towns will be in danger of losing their access to the sport.
Olney points out that this isn’t the best timing for the MLB, considering their declining attendance and falling World Series ratings.
The major leagues’ argument relies on saving money, but Olney theorizes that dropping 42 teams would amount to around $60 million in savings. Gerrit Cole is set to make over $1 million per start in 2020.
“The affiliation savings is tip money in an industry of $10 billion to $11 billion,” Olney said.
He then acknowledges that the minor leagues have been pushing for support from congress and as a last resort, may lock the doors on their ballparks if an agreement is not reached with the MLB. Olney foresees this battle getting much uglier before it gets resolved.
