Conflicting reports about future of MiLB

The future of Minor League Baseball was already in question prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, but it’s hard to tell how much that’s changed in recent weeks.

According to a Baseball America report, the MiLB could eliminate as many as 42 teams that currently have direct ties to a big league club.

This agreement between Major League and Minor League Baseball is a part of the new professional baseball agreement and could be finalized as soon as Wednesday.

If the deal goes through, it would shrink the collective farm system to 120 teams, meaning each of the 30 parent clubs would have four affiliates.

A source close to the situation tells News 25 the Biloxi Shuckers have one of the best facilities in all of Minor League Baseball and would not be on the chopping block, so to speak, in the event of contraction.

Now here’s the other side of the story, according to Minor League Baseball, in the form of an official statement earlier today saying: “Recent articles on the negotiations between Minor League and Major League Baseball are largely inaccurate. There have been no agreements on contraction or any other issues. The MiLB looks forward to continuing the good faith negotiations with the MLB tomorrow as we work toward an agreement that best ensures the future of professional baseball throughout the United States and Canada.”