Advocacy group: MLB improves minor housing but not enough

NEW YORK (AP) — An advocacy group for minor leaguers says Major League Baseball's new housing policy is an improvement but still inadequate.

The player steering committee of Advocates for Minor Leaguers issued a statement Thursday objecting to housing two players per bedroom and not accommodating spouses and children.

“While the new policy represents a massive player victory, the specifics of the policy were determined unilaterally by MLB, which neither asked for nor received our input," the group said. “Every player deserves the privacy of his own room. ... Spouses and children should be given accommodations to ensure they can live with their families during the season. They should not be asked to share bedrooms with their teammates.”

The group also is against using host families and says it will identify teams that provide what it views as deficient housing.

“Every MLB team can easily find 30 apartments in each of its minor league cities every year,” it said. “In light of these three potential loopholes — and for as long as the policy fails to ensure that each and every player will receive adequate housing accommodations — all minor league players should have the right to opt out of team-provided housing and instead receive a housing stipend or reimbursement.”

MLB said in November it will require teams to provide furnished accommodations, with a single bed per player and no more than two players per bedroom. Teams will be responsible for basic utility bills.

“To the extent that apartments, rental homes or host families are not feasible,” MLB said, “clubs may choose to provide hotel rooms that satisfy standards put in place.”

“While the housing policy is a substantial endeavor, its successful implementation is a priority for major league organizations," MLB said in...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Advocacy-group-MLB-improves-minor-housing-but-16809750.php