The future of more than 40 professional minor league baseball teams appears to be in peril. A new proposal from MLB would sever the major-league affiliations of 42 teams in the lower levels of the minors, mostly short-season and rookie ball teams.
The MLB and MiLB’s Professional Baseball Agreement is set to expire after the 2020 season and a new plan could see major changes.
Under the current agreement, major league clubs generally provide and pay for the staff and players for their affiliates, leaving minor league teams to cover everything else, including field, equipment, travel and uniform-related costs.