Minor league players will still get checks from the Atlanta Braves.
While that statement is true, as confirmed by baseballamerica.com yesterday (subscription required), it avoids details about the reality facing many of those toiling today at baseball’s lower levels. The Atlanta Braves aren’t any different here.
What started as a trickle has become the baseball-equivalent of a burst dam: minor league players are being released at a high rate this week.
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
DBacks and Rays have released minor leaguers in the last 24 hours, according to multiple sources. Exact numbers unknown.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2020
Part of this is routine – this is about the time of year when fringe players are let go. However, another part of this could be related to the expected contraction of minor league baseball in general.
While that doesn’t officially take place until (probably) the next Winter Meetings, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Since the minor league season itself is now dead (also not officially announced, but this week’s actions appear to be the final nail in that coffin), there’s little point to keeping those players around to fill out teams that weren’t going to play anymore.
Most clubs are lining up to acknowledge $400/week payments to their remaining MiLB rosterees through June as the Atlanta Braves have done. There is a bit of (probably warranted) cynicism running through some of the reporting concerning this information, though:
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
With the MLB Draft coming up in 2 weeks, the thought is that clubs don’t want to be seen as being callous to their minor leaguers just before going out and attempting to sign new draftees — or even non-draftees being offered $20,000 to enlist.
With that said, it will be interesting to see what happens after June. The regular minor league season normally runs through August, and thus far only the Marlins and Padres have committed to keep those checks coming through that time (BA as sourced above).
We don’t yet know any of the names of those getting their walking papers this week. We also don’t know whether the Atlanta Braves intend to go on any kind of $20K-per-player spending spree once the 5-round draft ends — a move that could replenish the farm system from these losses — but that now seems a bit less likely given cost-cutting actions taking place all over.
These are strange times indeed. Minor Leaguers hardest hit.