It’s typical at the end of Spring Training to see pretty significant cuts from an organization on the minor league side, and since we didn’t really have a normal Spring Training, some of those cuts were likely still pending. They were always going to play out in April or May or June.
But, unfortunately, we know that the situation is much worse than that. Not only do you have the pandemic shutting things down and eliminating revenues, you also have an MLB plan to remove upwards of 25% of minor league affiliations. It’s not official yet, but we know it’s coming. That plan is going to go through eventually.
That is to say, we know that huge volumes of minor leaguers are going to be released between now and the offseason, and it makes a lot of sense that teams would be doing it soon, since teams are committed to paying the players through May, and then have to decide whether to continue paying in June.
It sounds like that is indeed happening, and it is going to be horrible all across the sport:
Mets, Reds and other teams are releasing minor leaguers today. “Literally a war zone out there,” one agent called it. @ByRobertMurray 1st mentioned mets releases
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 28, 2020
Braves released minor leaguers in the last 24 hours, according to multiple sources. Exact number unknown. Known teams to make cuts: Mariners, Brewers, Reds, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Rockies.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2020
Expect most teams to make minor-league cuts in coming days. Said one agent: “40 players per team just got whacked so the club could save $50k/month. This is the equivalent of trying to save money by cutting out your daily Starbucks trip but still driving an X5 you can’t afford.”
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2020
Stay tuned for more cuts, because this is almost certainly going to happen for every single organization.
To that end, yes, it is absolutely about cost savings in the short-term – however small – but the sport is making a decision to have smaller minor leagues going forward. So there were going to be cuts eventually no matter what. I hate it. But it’s happening.
Still, seems like the humane thing to do right now would be not only to continue paying the small stipend to all of your minor leaguers through the would-have-been regular season (August), but also pay that same amount to the guys you’re releasing. Give them a chance to figure out what’s next. I know, I know. I’m spending other peoples’ money again.
UPDATE: It’s horrible out there.
#STLCards another team releasing minor leaguers today, according to multiple sources. Known teams to make cuts: Mariners, Brewers, Reds, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Rockies, Braves, DBacks, Rays.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2020
In normal years, cuts happen but not en masse like this. The fallout from the coronavirus, expected minor league contraction and the anticipated cancellation of the 2020 minor league season prompted organizations each to release dozens of players, who were being paid $400 a week.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 28, 2020