Congress task force formed to oppose MLB’s plan to cut minor league teams
A proposal to cut 42 minor league baseball teams, including the State College Spikes, is facing growing opposition.
Lawmakers on Tuesday announced the formation of the bipartisan Save Minor League Baseball Task Force. In a statement, the group said it plans to “advocate on behalf of the communities that” will be most affected by MLB’s restructuring plan and “discuss potential legislative action if and when such a remedy becomes necessary.” The task force will be co-chaired by Reps. Lori Trahan, D-Mass.; David McKinley, R-W.Va.; Max Rose, D-N.Y.; and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.
Spikes general manager Scott Walker thanked the group for speaking out against MLB’s proposal, which would take effect in 2021.
“We are going to resist this plan and are gratified that so many in Congress are willing to join with us,” Walker said in a statement.
Both sides are expected to continue talks Friday in advance of baseball’s winter meetings next week, according to The Washington Post. The agreement between MLB and minor league teams expires after the 2020 season.
“While it is our hope to negotiate a fair agreement with MLB, the overwhelming support from elected officials on both sides of the aisle, at all levels of government, has been tremendous and shows that baseball helps to unite our nation,” Minor League Baseball officials said in a statement.
On Monday, MLB officials met with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has criticized the plan. On Tuesday, officials met with McKinley and other House members.
“We repeatedly have stated both publicly and privately to the Minor Leagues that whatever the outcome of the negotiations, MLB will offer every community that currently hosts professional baseball options to preserve baseball in a viable, fan-friendly, compelling format with the full support of MLB,” Major League Baseball said in a statement, according to The Post.
The task force was formed weeks after more than 100 members of the House sent a letter to MLB in opposition to the proposal.
Pennsylvania officials also have spoken out this week. On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro both sent letters to the commissioner calling on him to reconsider the plan. Teams in two other Pennsylvania cities, Erie and Williamsport, would also be cut.
“To eliminate these three Pennsylvania teams creates serious legal questions and may prompt me to take legal action to protect our communities that would be harmed,” Shapiro said in his letter to commissioner Rob Manfred. Shapiro described the teams as vital to their communities, adding that cutting the clubs would “harm the residents of their host cities with effects reverberating” across the state.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 7:05 PM.