MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., says he’s “reasonably confident” lawmakers can save 42 minor league baseball teams from being cut.
“It’s going to take a process,” he pointed out.
McKinley and scores of lawmakers are urging Major League Baseball to back out of a deal that would delist the clubs, three of which are based in West Virginia.
McKinley and Massachusetts Democrat Lori Trahan are leading legislators in asking MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to consider the proposal. More than 100 lawmakers have signed onto their letter.
“Congress has stepped in over the years and has helped Major League Baseball to a tremendous extent,” McKinley said last week on MetroNews “Talkline.”
“This is America’s pastime. Congress has put money toward baseball to allow these things to happen so they can survive, and they’re making this cut.”
Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball are discussing an update to its working agreement, with a proposal that would cut a quarter of the country’s Minor League teams at the center of the controversy.
Manfred said the cuts are because of poor minor league team facilities, traveling because of relocation, poor pay for players and the retainment of players who likely will not play in Major League Baseball.
The West Virginia teams that would lose their affiliations under the proposal include the Charleston-based West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League), Bluefield Blue Jays (Appalachian League) and the Princeton Rays (Appalachian League).
McKinley said when it comes to facilities, all teams are in standing with policies set by MLB. He did note traveling as an issue, suggesting shifting leagues to reduce transportation costs.
McKinley also noted freezing the number of teams for multiple years as a possible solution.
Officials with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball met Thursday to negotiate the working agreement; lawmakers will meet with Minor League Baseball officials on Dec. 3.
“What I think they have to come up with is they have to lay out a compromise,” the congressman said. “Lay out what they can accept.”
McKinley and Trahan criticized Manfred’s comments on Friday, calling his tone “dismissive.”
“Minor League teams provide an enormous cultural and economic benefit to the communities they call home. Their abandonment by Major League Baseball would devastate them, their bond purchasers, and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these teams,” the legislators said.