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McKinley introduces resolution supporting minor league teams during MLB restructure plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) is one of four representatives that introduced a resolution in Congress to help dozens of minor league baseball teams avoid being cut.

On Tuesday, McKinley joined Lori Trahan (D-MA), Max Rose (D-NY), and Mike Simpson (R-NY), the co-chairs of the Save Minor League Baseball Task Force, to introduce the resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Major League Baseball (MLB) should maintain the current minor league structure rather than proceed with its plan to eliminate 42 minor league clubs, per release.

“I want to be careful that the government doesn’t have a role to step in and save this,” McKinley said recently on MetroNews ‘Talkline.’

U.S. Rep. David McKinley, D-W.Va.

“What we can do is make sure that Minor League Baseball is on a level playing field of negotiations as they try to figure out how to survive on being in the minor leagues.”

This comes on the heels of MLB and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) discussing an update to its working agreement, with a proposal that would cut a quarter of the country’s minor league teams.

Included in the proposal that would lose affiliations with MLB teams are the Charleston-based West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League), Bluefield Blue Jays (Appalachian League) and the Princeton Rays (Appalachian League).

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said the cuts are because of poor team facilities, traveling because of relocation, poor pay for players and the retainment of players who likely will not play in MLB.

“There are consequences of what is going to happen in Bluefield, Princeton, Charleston. For them (MLB) to say that that stadium built in 2005 in Charleston is inadequate is just wrong,” McKinley said.

Freezing the number of teams for multiple years and letting teams work on their stadiums for a couple of years are possible solutions, McKinley said.

He has added that MLB is listening to Congress because they have “the heavy hammer” in regards to tax reform and labor issues.

In November, more than 100 members of Congress joined together on a letter to MLB expressing opposition to the MLB plan.

McKinley’s office said the resolution demonstrates that minor league clubs and the communities for which they play are not without support in Congress.

Furthermore, it reflects Congress’ interest in ensuring fair negotiations between MLB and MiLB, per release.





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