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Atlanta Braves need to lead the way for minor league salary bumps

By Alan Carpenter

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 07: Home plate umpire Jose Navas punches out Taylor Trammell #7 of the National League after he tried to steal home during the fourth inning against the American League team during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 07: Home plate umpire Jose Navas punches out Taylor Trammell #7 of the National League after he tried to steal home during the fourth inning against the American League team during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 07: Pitcher Ben Bowden #35 of the National League reacts after giving up a two run homer to tie the game during the seventh inning against the American League during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 07: Pitcher Ben Bowden #35 of the National League reacts after giving up a two run homer to tie the game during the seventh inning against the American League during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Back to Drellich

Drellich’s story chiefly concerned itself about money and how the major league clubs seem to be more interested in getting others to help them get more cash so that this salary increase doesn’t impact them.

Seriously… that’s what’s the story said:

"MLB can argue that if its cost per player goes up, then the number of minor-league teams will need to go down. MLB could also ask that MiLB pay a higher percentage in ticket revenue."

The Atlanta Braves are in an interesting position here:  they are both a major league franchise plus the franchise owners of most of their own minor league affiliate teams.

So if there’s more money that has to be injected into the system to make this work, the Braves are going to have to be committed – regardless of which side of the equation has to be balanced.

While MLB will be dragged into this kicking and screaming… the handwriting is on the wall.  It’s inevitable.

So the Braves need to be out front on this:  and it’s in their own best interests to do so.

Be Bold; Be Brave

If the Braves announced, for example, that their major league team would be doubling or tripling the payrolls of their minor league teams, then it might shame other clubs (even Toronto, which is kicking in 50% extra on their own this season) into doing so.

In that way, their “loss” of major league dollars might be matched with other clubs reducing their spending power by the same amount.

Better that than having to do more strictly from the minor league side… which I expect is going to be a tough sell anyway (more on that coming up).

Heck, there was even a veiled threat contained in the Drellich piece – that MLB might have to reduce minor league teams if salaries are increased.

Sorry MLB:  that’s not the same as an argument about, for instance, making a $15 minimum wage in Seattle.  You have a closed and limited economic system… you can reduce jobs to balance the math, but you will do so to the detriment of your own ecosystem.

What follows here (on the next page) is a comment I left on TheAthletic site to this article… which honestly seemed a bit incomplete.  Hopefully it clarifies a couple of points.

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