Minor league teams accepting new reality following MLB cuts

Jackson Generals boss Marcus Sabata had a surprising reaction when he learned his Double-A Southern League franchise had been officially booted from the affiliated minor leagues:

He felt relieved.

Major League Baseball announced this week 119 of the 120 teams that have been formally invited to remain as minor league affiliates, chopping 40 franchises in a move that’s been anticipated for over a year. News of MLB’s hopes to shrink the minors first emerged during negotiations last offseason for a new Professional Baseball Agreement, and after the deal governing the minors was allowed to expire this fall, Wednesday’s announcement was inevitable.

“We’ve been under this cloud for a year now,” said Sabata, general manager of the Tennessee team since September 2019. “Now that there’s some certainty to how we see things moving forward, we can plan the next chapter, which is kind of a relief, to be honest.”

Most of the clubs who lost their affiliation expect to continue operations in some manner, many still in conjunction with MLB.

The former Rookie-level Appalachian League has been transformed into a 10-team college summer league, six teams have been invited to join the MLB Draft League for draft-eligible players, and the eight-team Pioneer League has said it will become an independent circuit that operates as an MLB partner league.

Three franchises from the Class A Midwest League who lost affiliation said in statements this week they are in communication with MLB about joining another partner league — the Burlington Bees (Iowa), Kane County Cougars (Illinois) and Clinton LumberKings (Iowa).

“We have been doing extensive work and are considering several options for the future of the LumberKings franchise,” Clinton general manager Ted Tornow said....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Minor-league-teams-accepting-new-reality-15797492.php